Betty Jo Mayfield

Betty Jo Mayfield went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, August 28, 2021 in Houston, Texas at the age of 90. She was born in 1931 in Houston, Texas to Rufus Alonzo and Annie Lura Hartis. She was the youngest of six children.

Betty Jo attended Milby High School and graduated from The Lillie Jolly School of Nursing in 1951 as a Registered Nurse. She met and married Lt. Col. Ralph F. Jorgensen in 1952 and they proceeded to move around the country to various Air Force bases. They had five children from 1954 to 1970 and eventually settled in Houston, TX. She continued to work as a nurse and a homemaker until she changed her career and found her true passion in the floral business, in 1964. Her husband, Ralph, passed away in 1975, and she was lucky enough to find true love again in 1977. She and her husband, Gene Mayfield, and daughter Kristi moved to Kerrville, TX where she took on the role of a rancher and opened another florist.

In 1981, they moved to Rusk, TX where she continued to work as a rancher and florist. Betty Jo’s greatest joy was being in nature. She could identify any flower, tree or bird. Her perfect day would be to work in her flower and vegetable gardens, watch her beloved songbirds out of her kitchen and living room windows, and sit on the porch with Gene drinking her coffee. She was a voracious reader, enjoyed watching movies, playing cards, gambling at casinos, taking vacations, antiquing and collecting glass. She loved all of her animals (from her dogs and cats to her cows). She was a fantastic down-home country cook and baker. Her chicken fried steak, homemade piecrust (of which her daughters were taught to make many times but have never been able to replicate), and apricot turnovers will be greatly missed. She was a funny, loving, sweet, sassy and smart businesswoman. Betty loved her children and grandchildren more than anything and loved to go and visit them. She had a way of making each child feel special and loved.

She is preceded in death by both husbands (Ralph and Gene) and her five siblings (Earl, Gene, Ray, Marge and Sherry). She is survived by her five children, Ralph F. Jorgensen II, Jeffrey Alan Jorgensen both of Houston, TX, Charles Andrew Jorgensen (Holly) of Sugar Land, TX, Susan Kathleen Jorgensen and Kristi Anne Jorgensen, both of Houston, TX; her six grandchildren, Robert Alan Jorgensen, Jonathan Michael Jorgensen, and Jacob Elliott Jorgensen of Houston, TX, and Alexander Kristian Jorgensen Zachary Dean Jorgensen, both of Sugar Land, TX. She is also survived by her stepson Dennis Milton Jorgensen (Joyce) of Tallahassee, FL; grandson Dennis (Denny) Milton Jorgensen Jr. (Meghan); and great-grand-children Trey and Addie Jorgensen all of Grayson, GA. She is also, survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation with family & friends for Betty will be held Saturday, September 4, 2021 starting at 2:00 PM at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079 with a funeral service to follow the visitation starting at 3:00 PM. A committal service will occur Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 4:00 PM at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.

She will be dearly missed but her beautiful spirit will live on in all of us. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialoaksfunerals.com for the Mayfield and Jorgensen families.