Bettie Jane Barrow

Bettie Jane Kinnaird Barrow of Baytown passed away Friday, June 24, 2011, with all of her children at her side. Bettie was a kind, gentle, and caring soul, and she touched many hearts and lives during the eighty-two years she was here. She was predeceased by her parents, Fantley and Alafair Kinnaird, her brother, Henry Kinnaird, and by her loving husband, Leonard Barrow, in 2004, after almost 50 years of marriage.

Bettie is survived by her step-daughter and son-in-law, Lindy and Darrell Fortenberry of Clear Lake, Texas; her daughters and sons-in-law Janet and Jimmy Twardowski of Clear Lake, Texas, and Jennifer and Paul Bower of Reston, Virginia; and her son, Paul Barrow of Baytown, Texas. In addition, her six grandchildren, Ginger Price, April Fortenberry, Matthew Twardowski, Lauren Twardowski, Taylor Twardowski, and Grant Bower, as well as one great-grandchild, Dylan Wiles.

Bettie was born on July 21, 1928, in Goose Creek, Texas. She graduated from Cedar Bayou High School in 1945 and attended Lee College. She worked for Humble Oil as a secretary and in the accounting department before she married Leonard. She quickly became a second mother to Leonard’s daughter, Lindy, and loved and relished their vacations and time together. She made the decision to postpone her professional career when the first of her three children were born in order to raise them herself, building a foundation of love and stability for them, while instilling family values, responsibility, and a belief in God.

Bettie later returned to the work environment as a secretary at Ross Sterling High School. There, she worked with many young adults, serving as an exemplary role model and passing on advice and encouragement to them through her wisdom and sense of humor. She built many lifelong friendships in her years at Sterling. Those friendships became like family and were continued, nurtured, and treasured through her last days.

Bettie was also a member of the Dirt Gardeners Garden Club, which gave her unending pleasure, as she was always potting a new plant, starting a seedling, or tending to and nurturing plants that her mother left to her years before. She always preferred having her hands in the dirt to any other hobby or chore that existed, as it provided her with time for meditation, reflection, spirituality, and reward in each new bloom that God provided.

Bettie also contributed many hours of service to St. James House. She enjoyed serving and socializing with the residents, who eagerly anticipated her friendly visits as well as her famous sad cake.

Bettie’s children loved many things about their mother, but the qualities that stood out were her faith, love of family, sense of responsibility, work ethic, and service to others, all maintained with her sense of humor firmly intact. She had a wonderful smile, a positive outlook on life, and an encouraging belief that there is good in everyone.

Her long and lasting membership and service to Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church demonstrated her sense of loyalty and faith in God. From a very young age, she attended and served the church and her God, and she sought to live her life with the values and guidance that the Bible provided her. Her involvement with the Prayer Ministry at Cedar Bayou Grace was a special calling to Bettie and she spent many hours each week writing prayer cards and calling those who were ill or facing struggles in their lives. She constantly provided support for others in need and encouraged, sometimes strongly, her friends to accompany her in this service. The multitude of church members with whom she prayed, testified, and had fellowship with, were at her side throughout a life-ending challenge with cancer. Throughout this challenge, there were never complaints or self-pity from Bettie. She continued to pray every day for her family, her friends, and anyone she knew needed an extra touch from God.

Bettie’s unending dedication to her family, friends, and faith serves as an example to all that are left behind. She leaves all her children and grandchildren with the knowledge that they were loved and that she loved the Lord. She will be incredibly missed.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, June 27th, at Earthman Funeral Home, 3919 Garth Road, Baytown, Texas. The Funeral service to celebrate her remarkable life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28th at Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church, 2714 Ferry Road, Baytown, Texas, with the Reverend Carol Turner officiating. Donations in honor of Bettie may be made to the Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church.