Betty Sue Lively Blaylock

On the evening of December 25, 2012, Betty Sue Blaylock slipped peacefully into the arms of her loving God, where she was joyfully reunited with many friends and family, including her husband of 54 years, Charles C. Blaylock. Betty Sue leaves behind a legacy of grace and love to her children and grandchildren: son Chuck, his wife Lynda, and their children Michael, Jake, and Kendra; son Dick, his wife Barbie, and their children Sara, Jack, Becky, and Bryan; and daughter Suzy Blaylock, her husband Mike Wyneken, and his children Caleb and Hannah. She precedes in death her only sibling, her sister Shirley L. Smith, and leaves indelible memories of love and laughter with her cousins, the Moores of Frost, Texas, as well with the numerous extended members of the Blaylock, Connell, and Reed families of Dallas.

Born August 17, 1937 in Woodville, Texas, to Elsie Mae and Colonel Richard Price Lively, Betty Sue’s family moved to University Park six weeks later. A self-proclaimed “tomboy” who tried to take flight from the roof of the garage in Elementary School, she met her future husband, “Charley Blaylock,” in Junior High. During this time, she also attended a summer church camp, where she first felt the spark of what became a life-long commitment to pursuing God’s purpose for her life.

Betty Sue graduated from Highland Park High School in 1955 and went on to attend Southern Methodist University. She pledged membership to the Tri Delta Sorority, where she created many dear and life-long friendships. She also reunited with Charles Blaylock, and they married in 1957, both continuing their classes in the mornings and working in the afternoons. Betty Sue worked in the office of SMU President Willis Tate.

After twelve years of marriage and three kids, Betty Sue acquired her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Southern Methodist University in 1969. Committed to furthering her education, a quality instilled by her father, she went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Counselor Education from SMU in 1976, and her Doctorate of Education in Guidance and Counseling from Western Colorado State University in 1978.

While continuing her formal education, Betty Sue flexed her entrepreneurial skills by selling Real Estate in the 1960’s and opening her own store, The Plant Place, in the 1970’s. She also launched a career of devoted volunteerism that would span half a century. Betty served as: Vice President of the Wadley Guild, raising funds for Childhood Leukemia Research; Leadership Trainer and Director of Day Camp activities for the Girl Scouts of America; and Vice President of the St. Mark’s School Parent’s Club, chairing the school’s major fundraising activity for 2 years. She also combined her love of travel with her volunteer spirit by supporting the Foundation For Hospital Art. And throughout it all, she most enjoyed spending time with family and friends, whether it was in Cripple Creek, Colorado, Rockport, Texas or Ruidoso, New Mexico.

In the early 1980’s, Betty Sue found herself back at SMU, working as an Academic Advisor, the Recruitment Coordinator for the newly created Career Center, and the Assistant Director of the Reading Center. She also launched her private counseling practice at this time. After a few years, Dr. Blaylock’s experience and faith took her to the Minirth Meier Christian Counseling Center in Richardson, where she focused her skills around young adults from homes affected by drug and alcohol abuse.

Betty committed an overwhelming amount of time and energy in the last 15 years of her life fighting against Alzheimer’s Disease. She participated as an active volunteer for AWARE, the fundraising auxiliary of the Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, serving as the organization’s President in 2004-05 and instrumental in securing a $1,000,000 Zenith Award for Alzheimer’s Research. She was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for 2009. She also served as Treasurer and ultimately President of the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association.

When her husband of 50 years was diagnosed with ALS, Betty Sue lovingly cared for him until his death in 2010. In 2009, she was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis, and while it never dimmed the bright light of her faith, it slowly weakened her precious body until God called her home, Christmas Night 2012. She loved God, her family, and friends, and her selfless grace has been an inspiration to all.

A Celebration of Betty Sue Blaylock’s life will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2012, at Northwest Bible Church, 8505 Douglas Avenue, in Dallas, with a reception immediately following at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Betty Sue’s memory to the Foundation For Hospital Art, www.hospitalart.org.