Elizabeth Joann "Betty Jo" Welch, age 70, of Lake Charles, Louisiana passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Betty was born on January 03, 1952 in Denver, Colorado to John Norman Bell and Mary Theresa Bell.
Betty moved to SWLA in 1962, graduated from Sulphur High and then from McNeese State University with a Masters +30 in Education. She began her teaching career as an Elementary teacher at Our Lady Queen of Heaven School and then worked for Calcasieu Parish School Board for 35 years as a Middle school teacher. Betty and a fellow Calcasieu Parish school teacher initiated a program teaching Algebra in Calcasieu Parish Middle Schools. After retiring, Betty & Howard traveled and worked on large construction projects across the U.S.
For the last two years, Betty held a rewarding position assisting first time home buyers dreaming of home ownership at Project Build A Future.
In her spare time, Betty enjoyed gardening, taking photos of beautiful flowers, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Betty was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Addison "Addie" Welch, her first husband, Randy Searle, her parents, and a brother, Michael Jerome Bell.
Those left behind to cherish her memory are her husband of 22 years, Howard Welch; three children, Keith Alan Welch in Dallas, TX, Brian Stephen Welch (Michelle) in Lake Charles, LA, and Brent Anderson Welch in Lake Charles, LA; two grandchildren, Ellie Grace and Jagger Keith; four sisters, Theresa Marie Hartley in Pearland, TX, Patricia Louise Valentine (Tony) in Warsaw, IN, Margaret Mary Frederick (Tony) in Sulphur, LA, and Kathleen Suzanne Smith (Nate) in Rockledge, FL; sister-in-law, Peggy Bell in Cypress, TX; sister-in-law, Susan Krous in Lake Charles, LA; brother-in-law, Kenneth Welch (Kathy) in Lake Charles, LA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday December 6, 2022 at Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. A Rosary will begin at 6:00 p.m. with Rev. Timothy Goodly officiating. Visitation will resume from 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m on Wednesday at the funeral home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Rev. Aubrey Guilbeau officiating. Burial will follow in Westlake Memorial Park Cemetery in Westlake under the direction of Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home.
Betty's family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors and staff at M.D. Anderson Hospital, especially the 11th floor Palliative Care Team for their wonderful care & compassion shown to Betty during her brief illness.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hixsonsulphurmemorial.com for the Welch family.
