Betty Hensley

From her earliest home made of sod , grass, clay, rocks & mud, with a dirt floor, near an Indian Reservation in Deming, NM, —-to a beautiful mansion with streets of gold , Betty Lou (Lee) Hensley arrived at her final home….met by these words” well done, good and faithful servant”, spoken by Jesus and embraced by Charles’ waiting arms.

After the sod house, Betty, 2, her sister Norma 3, brother Floyd 4, parents Clayborn & Gracie Lee, then moved into a small rundown house, in a small community at Watts, OK, located on a hill. It required cardboard on all windows to keep in heat as only one coal fired stove in the house, no electricity or running water. The water well was located about 1/8 mile down the hill, so it took a long time to get water. Baths were scheduled one day a week in two big tubs that were used for bluing and rinsing clothes after being washed on the rub board .Eventually there were 9 children, with 3 beds in one room and small kitchen.

All the children walked to school a half mile away, barefoot in summer, and one pair of shoes for winter and church. They lived on fruits from fruit trees, vegetables from garden, and chickens they raised and a milk cow!!

As they grew older, Betty, Norma and Floyd missed quite a bit of school as they traveled with their dad to Ark to pick cotton to help the big growing family. They finally left school before finishing 8th grade.

As teenagers, Betty (15) and Norma (16) rode the bus from Sallisaw, OK to Muskogee OK and Floyd went to Rockford, Illinois where other cousins were working. All three sent money home to help raise the other 6 kids.

Their cousin Inez (15) lived in an apartment with Norma & Betty so Norma, the older one, would walk Betty to her job as waitress and Inez to her job at a dress shop and Norma worked nearby at another dress shop. Norma warned each of their bosses they had better treat Betty & Inez right as they were only 15. Eventually Norma, Betty & Inez joined Brother Floyd and all the other cousins at Rockford, all working at same factory, National Lock.

In Rockford all the cousins played music on guitars, Country & gospel, and new guy Charles from Ark and his cousins played music with them and all worked at same place. . Floyd introduced Charles to his sister Betty, whom Charles adored, and they married. Charles was a biker but a good guy who loved his Harley, so he and Betty both rode his bike.

In the meantime, in 1953 Betty’s Mom and all the younger six kids moved to Iowa Park, TX, where their Mom had a brother. Their first house was small concrete blocks, had electricity and water, and outhouse, rent was $12 month from Bertha Garner, sweet elderly lady, who also provided a cow for them to use.

In 1957 Charles entered the Marine Corps for two years. While he was at boot camp, Betty came to live with her Mom and the other 6 kids.

They all now lived in a tin framed home, rent was $15 month, but had two bedrooms and a full bathroom, electricity, and water. They all felt they were uptown….and were all so happy.

Betty started working at Metz cafe in Iowa Park as a waitress and her tips, if any, were mostly 5cents a person. , and she always gave her tips to younger siblings. Once her sister Margie had a quarter she got from her Mom and headed to Metz Cafe...

And she knew she could get hb, coke and 5 cents left; but when she got there at cafe, Betty lectured her to take her Mom’s hard earned money back to her Mom and Betty paid for Margie’s food from her tips. Margie was 13. Then Betty got Margie a job there washing dishes for Mr. Metz, her first big job, which she loved.

In 1959 Betty & Charles bought her mom her first home in Iowa Park for $1600, from the Roland Battles family. Wow, three bedrooms, electricity, water and full bathroom. They had really moved up… they were in “high cotton” They were all happy.

Betty n Charles moved to Tulsa in 1960, and Charles became carpenter and Betty worked initially for Zebco Rod &Reel. And in 1961, they welcomed their wonderful son, Jeffrey. In 1962, they both accepted the Lord with their whole lives and Charles felt called into the ministry. He was Associate pastor at Old Camp meeting Church and used his carpentry skills to help build two more churches. Betty wholeheartedly supported him, cleaned the church, baked and gave it away... with Jeff in school she started looking after a lady with one leg amputated above the knee, who needed help on weekdays , so compassionate Betty was there 10 years, and cared for her like she would her own mother .. Betty even called her Mom Maxwell. When she passed away, those two sons gave all their Mom’s possessions in her house to Betty n Charles for great care of their Mom.

BETTYS GIVING HEART LED HER TO Another elderly well to-do lady named Nancy, who Betty cared for so well for six years, - Nancy had a sister who lived in Michigan and visited several times. When Nancy died, her sister in Michigan sent a $5,000 check to Betty & Charles In appreciation for Betty’s great care of her sister. That was almost 50 years ago.

In 1976 Charles felt called to leave Tulsa & evangelize. They sold their house, packed and headed to Ark for two years. Charles played guitar, Jeff the drums, and Betty and Charles Sang. They visited First Assembly in Iowa Park and were called as pastors there in 1978. Betty loved being near her Mom and some of siblings , and in fact they set up their trailer home on the original site of the home Betty & Charles originally bought for her Mom, but her Mom’s home was destroyed in a flood in 1975. They faithfully served there as pastors for over 20 years, using all their resources, gifts and talents. They physically and spiritually wanted to rebuild the church into the best of shape and worked hard at it. When they had a visiting evangelist, they used their own personal money to insure the evangelist was well cared for while there with good lodging, food and blessed finances when they left.

During this time, they welcomed their wonderful daughter in law, Renee Williams, and along came their treasure — grandson Caleb. With both of Caleb’s parents working, Betty happily kept Caleb for many years and before and after school. He was such a joy to Betty & Charles and loved playing the guitar like his Gdad.

Betty & Charles were a constant Source of love & care for Betty’s Mom and her Mom loved going to their church. Betty had a little blue VW and when she wasn’t taking Caleb, Kendell, Brandy & Ashley to school, she was taking her Mom to garage sales. Her Mom had walked daily to several jobs for many years to get her kids raised. She didn’t have a car. So Betty and her Mom had lots of adventures in Betty’s little blue bug.

When Betty’s Mom’s house on Pasadena was destroyed by a flood, her brother Floyd gave his future retirement home in Iowa Park to her Mom. Charles helped restore it to a beautiful home. Charles and Jeff even built a beautiful ramp for Betty’s mom when she broke her pelvis at age 96. She loved that ramp!!!!

Betty also started caring several days a week for many years for Grace Reeves, well known teacher in Iowa Park. Betty added so much to Grace’s life, taking her shopping, meeting old school friends, out to eat in Betty’s little blue bug.

In 1997, Betty n Charles felt led to retire as pastors. Charles went into business with his brother in law, Mike, building steel framed homes, with son Jeffrey joining them. One of Charles & Betty’s greatest joys was in 1998 when Charles was in Brazil building four steel framed homes and to his amazement, he met the

Missionary his church in Iowa Park (First Assembly) had supported for many years —- so like God to show Charles some fruits from his & Betty’s labor.

In 2000, Charles decided to build a big steel framed home for his mom and two widowed sisters in Jonesboro, Ark. After his Mom’s death, he decided to add on a big suite for him and Betty to retire there among the beautiful pines.

In 2004, it was completed and Betty joined him, again revamping her desire to help the elderly, caring for each patient in Jonesboro, Ark like her own mother. She received many accolades there for her compassionate care plus they spent 9 years there.

In 2008, with Betty’s Mom, 98, getting more fragile, they both decided to come back to Iowa Park and help with the last weeks and months of her mother’s life in her home.. They were priceless with their love and care and so needed. They stayed until her death in 2009 and went back to Ark.

In 2010, Charles was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Betty realized their need to be with their son and his help in Iowa Park. In 2012 they moved back to Iowa Park. In the throes of this disease, Betty mustered all the love, compassion and care within her, all these years for OTHERS, now she got to bestow it all on her wonderful husband … and her son Jeffrey matched it with such compassion, aided by the rest of the big family in Iowa Park. She kept Charles groomed and looking good, knowing he would be disappointed if he didn’t look presentable. She looked beyond the effect of the disease and refused to keep him isolated and became the ears n eyes for him, taking him to birthday parties, family reunions, and church. One final special trip was their grandson Caleb’s wedding to beautiful Jennifer. A further honor was bestowed on Charles 2 1/2 weeks after his passing on Nov 6, 2013- their great grandson was born and named after Him - Arthur Charles Hensley.

Betty lived a full active life for ten more years. She went to many reunions, joined the Christian Motorcyclists, attending Broken Chains Biker Church as well as Lakeview Church of God. She attended CMA rallies and many trips to Chuckie Cheese with Margie & her grandchildren... she never slowed down.

In 2016, Betty and her two sisters were in a serious car wreck, critically injuring Jaynell with broken back. Betty loved helping her sister with keeping Jaynell’s house in tip top shape.

In 2020, Betty was diagnosed with beginnings of dementia, and broke her hip in 2021, YET, she breezed thru rehab and didn’t slow her down… she loved riding to River Creek golf course for lunch with Mike. .

Betty’s son, Jeffrey, has been such a remarkable son, leaving his job two years ago, insisting he needed to be there daily to care for her. His great love and concern for his mom overcame any hesitancy in caring for her in the home. No son could have done it better.

On one of Billy Graham’s last interviews, nearing 100 years of age, he was asked what he thought of death. He said “if anyone ever tells you Billy Graham is dead, don’t you believe them. I’ll be more alive in Heaven than I ever was on the earth. “

When Betty took that last breath here, on Jan 7, the next one was in Heaven. 2 Cor. 5:8 “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. “

I was given the greatest gift a son could ever have. I was allowed to care for this kind gentle woman that prayed a million prayers for me and loved me.

Preceded in death are Betty’s

Parents, Brother Floyd Lee, Sister Patsy Frazier, Sister Gaylene Wheetley;

Brothers in law Clifford Compton, John Ekey, Jerry Major; Bobby Frazier; Wayne Hensley;

Sisters in law Margie Lee; Pat Lee; Betty Jane Hensley; Rhuedel Farley

Surviving Betty are her son, Jeffrey Hensley of Iowa Park, TX; and Daughter in law Renee Hensley of Iowa Park; grandson Caleb Hensley and wife Jennifer of Lewisville, TX & great grandchildren Arthur Charles & Nora Sue Hensley of Lewisville.

BROTHERS:Jim Lee and wife Andrea of Frisco, TX; Jerry Lee and wife Jana of Iowa Park, TX; Mike Lee and wife Joyce of Broken Arrow, OK; Tim Lee and wife Vondal of Broken Arrow, OK; Dennis Lee and wife Aaron of Van Buren, Arkansas

SISTERS: Norma Ekey of Iowa Park, TX; Dorthy Major of Keller, TX; Margie Negri of Iowa Park, TX; Jaynell Manuel of Iowa Park, TX; Denise Samples of Broken Arrow, OK.

Betty’s family would also like to thank her great neighbor Sharon Bata, and all her family, and the wonderful Hospice Facility Staff: Dr. Micah Boyer, Leslie Pruitt, RN;Katrina Enriquez, RN; Luci McIhaney, LMSW; Nick Morales, Chaplain; and Esther Briesemaster, CNA. Others include Debbie, volunteer; Jennifer Harris, RN; Robin Pless, RN;Bryan Collier, RN; Tishia Clark, RN; my Jessica Grant, RN; Stacey Barrett, LVN; Sayra Benavides, CNA; Courtney Habeck, RN; and Kristi Caldwell, RN.