Betty Ruth Sexton

Betty Ruth Dickerson Sexton passed peacefully to the arms of Jesus on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Betty was born on November 30, 1927, in Foss, Oklahoma to Charles Garland & Birdie Lou Dickerson. On August 22, 1948, Betty married her sweetheart, Raymond Sexton, and together celebrated 71 years of marriage at the time of Raymond’s death.

Betty was a graduate of Laing High School in Tipton, Oklahoma, and in 1951 received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Betty and Raymond resided in Lawton, Oklahoma, where their first two children, Cindy and Preston, were born. In 1956 the family moved to Altus, Oklahoma, where their third child, Lori, was born. Together, Betty & Raymond were actively involved in the First Baptist Church of Altus.

In 1966, the family moved from Altus to Corpus Christi, Texas, where they lived and became members of First Baptist Church. For more than 50 years, Betty served at various times as a Sunday School teacher in Adult, Youth, and Children’s departments as well as being a member of the Sanctuary and Harbor Lights’ Choir. Serving as a sponsor on many mission trips alongside her children was one of her greatest joys as she watched them become adults and establish their own family values based on church faithfulness and Christian service. She and Raymond delivered Bibles to foreign ships docked at the Port of Corpus Christi. Each week they took flowers to shut-ins from arrangements made from the flowers displayed in church on Sunday morning.

During her senior years, Betty fulfilled her dream of becoming a freelance writer. Her articles, stories, poems, and limericks appeared in Christian publications. She, also, served as a substitute teacher at Mary Carroll High School for many years.

Upon Raymond’s retirement, Betty and Raymond enjoyed traveling throughout the United States including Hawaii and Alaska. A trip to Montana combined their love of travel with their love for missions as they helped construct a Mission Church in Missoula, Montana. Retirement gave them time to devote to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After Raymond’s death, the Lord blessed Betty with loving care at Live Oak Senior Care in Montgomery, Texas, followed by a brief stay at Village Green Memory Care. For the last six months, Betty received extraordinary care by Ging Mendoza and Ron McGlothlin in the Care House of the Yellow Rose and Heart to Heart Hospice in New Braunfels.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond. and her son, Preston Ray Sexton, as well as her parents Garland & Birdie Lou Dickerson and her brother Forrest Dickerson.

She is survived by her daughters and their spouses: Cindy Sexton Bergfeld (Richard); Lori Sexton Byrnes (Tommy).

Betty is survived by her grandchildren and their spouses: Becky Bergfeld Roberson (Scott); Katie Bergfeld Sangl (Adam); Preston Byrnes (Ashley); and Jake Byrnes. Betty is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Bailey Roberson; Austin & Sadie Sangl; Adalyn & Porter Byrnes, as well as her sister-in-law, Neta Fern Dickerson, Betty Sexton, and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 27, 2024, in the Chapel of the First Baptist Church, Corpus Christi, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Gifts may be made to the Missions Outreach Ministry of First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi.