Betty Jane Avary

Betty Jane Avary, 62, of Houston, transitioned into her new life on June 27, 2022 in Houston, TX.

Betty was born on December 21, 1959 in Tacoma, Washington to Denver Unroe David and Theresa Sence David.

She graduated from Alamo Heights High School in 1977 and earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Texas A&M University in 1981.

Betty married Robert Leslie Avary on August 3, 1991. She worked at a number of architectural firms in Houston before venturing out on her own. Her skills were displayed in a wide range of assignments in multi-family, office, industrial, and residential projects.

In 1995, the Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects included one of her most impressive projects in their annual Home Tour. The Hunters Creek Village home remodel was a major undertaking, requiring five years of planning, dreaming, and building.

Betty loved to sketch design and construction ideas on the spot. She prided herself on providing ideas from a highly educated and experienced professional at a bargain. Many homeowners acknowledge how her guidance enhanced the functionality and enjoyment of their homes.

Betty was a “serial experientialist”, leading to many art media endeavors including wood, stone, stained glass, jewelry making, and painting. She taught watercolor classes to old and young.

She taught Creative Memories scrapbooking classes frequently in her home on Friday nights. A team of women talking (a lot) about their pictures and life events would ultimately lead to an unanswerable question requiring a male’s opinion. Betty’s husband, Rob, was expected to answer for the totality of all men in existence. He would occasionally ask why she spent so much time and money on a hobby. Now, he has many precious memories preserved because of her hard work and dedication to a worthy cause.

Betty was an artist in everything she did from cooking to gardening. She had a knack for understanding value and exemplified a “waste not, want not” mindset. Betty was stylish but she did not fixate on constantly needing the newest fashions. She was incredibly frugal, even when she didn’t need to be.

Her love through service to others was her way of honoring Jesus Christ’s messages, examples, and sacrifice for us. Betty had deep faith in God’s plan and knew divine guidance was always there for her.

Betty fought an incredibly difficult battle with cancer for five years. As difficult and painful as the operations and treatments were, she found the strength and resolve to enjoy the days God blessed her with, and had an optimistic and upbeat attitude throughout. She continued to enjoy cooking and gardening through her final days.

Betty is preceded in death by her mother and father and her nephew, Evan.

Betty is survived by her spouse, Robert, their daughter Erin Pye and her husband CJ Pye, her brothers Jim and Tom David, sister-in-law Cindy David, sister Arlene Woodruff and brother-in-law Barry Woodruff, nephews Parker, Austin and Dylan, and niece Alyson, and their respective families.

The Avary family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses with Memorial Hermann, UT Physicians and Houston Hospice. We have a profound gratitude to the incredibly loving team of ministers and laity in Memorial Drive United Methodist Church. Through your words and leadership, you eased some of the pain in this incredibly difficult journey. You gently reminded us of truths that were sometime difficult for us to see. Words can’t adequately express how much you helped us.

Our family requests that in lieu of flowers, any donations be made to Memorial Drive United Methodist Church https://www.mdumc.org and/or Boys and Girls Country https://boysandgirlscountry.org.