Betty Frances Tullis Patterson

Betty Frances Patterson, age 94, of Houston, Texas passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Betty Frances Tullis Patterson was a 5th generation Texas born to Woody Andrew Tullis and Lorene Massengale Tullis in Mercedes, Texas, on January 7th, 1929. Her love of singing started early and she sang in the church choir and local events dressed impeccably by her mother. She followed her love of music to college at North Texas State University where she met and fell in love with Oscar Patterson. They married in 1949 and had their first daughter, Gail Hirschfield, M.D., in 1950 in Denton, Texas. They lived many places in Texas, but eventually settled in Houston in 1962 for Oscar’s career at NASA. They joined the First Unitarian Church where she joined the choir she then sang with for over fifty years. She also sang with the Houston Symphony Chorale for many years. Her children lovingly remember hearing her beautiful and distinctive voice above all others. Betty loved nature and her home was filled with plants, rocks, shells, and driftwood. She imbued in her children a love of adventure and play, science, flavors, culture, and social justice. They attended civil rights marches and worked at the church to help those in need. Her passion for helping others culminated in her return to school and at the age of fifty two she graduated from San Jacinto College of Nursing. Her patients were doted on and given the best nursing care. Bety traveled the world, but Texas was her beloved home and she shared that love with her children as well. From the Gulf to the deserts and mountains, they explored every corner hiking to tree line, hopping stones to cross rivers, and diving through the big waves out to the calm to float. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Woody and Lorene Tullis and her husband Oscar Patterson. She is survived by her five children: Gail Hirschfield and husband Stuart; Jamie Rascoe and husband Mark; Woodie Eley and husband Bill; Noel Patterson and husband Randall DiStefano; Rachel Naegeli and wife Ellen; her eight grandchildren: Dean Bernshausen and wife Alicia Nashlund; Robert Bernshausen and wife Jamie; Robin Scott and husband Robert Hammett; Blaise Rascoe and wife Katy; Laurel Lane and husband Chuck Burris; Aaron Lane and wife Emily; Lily Naegeli and Rose Naegeli; and her nine great-grandchildren: Archer Bernshausen, Alexandra Bernshausen, Peter Bernshausen, Bodhi Hammett, Kieran Rascoe, Beckett BurrisLane; Malloy Lane; Everett Lane, and Eislee Lane. She is survived by her caretaker and close family friend for many years, Leticia Lopez.

Everyone Betty met or knew was in proximity to her joyful light. Her world was musical and magical and you couldn't help but see the world through Betty’s eyes. Her exuberance lives on in her family and those whose lives she touched.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.earthmanbellaire.com for the Patterson family.