Betty Beckham Smith

Betty Beckham Smith, age 88, of Midland, Texas passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, October 2, 2023. She was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma on May 24, 1935 to Finley and Bernadine Beckham. She was the oldest of three children. Betty attended school in Oklahoma; Rankin, Texas; and her senior year in Whitesboro, Texas, where she graduated. She did attend business college in Dallas and Midland and majored in bookkeeping.

She met and married Gay Dean Ragsdale in 1953 to start their life together. They had two children and one on the way when Gay unexpectedly passed in 1960.

She later found love again in 1968 and married Foy Lee Smith. They enjoyed many years of family vacations and fishing trips to the Rio Grande. They placed membership in Downtown (North A) Church of Christ in Midland in 1978. Betty was hired as the church secretary in 1983 and continued after Foy's death in 1985. She retired on April 26, 2006 after 23 years of service, but returned for a period of time on a part-time basis until her final retirement on December 31, 2020.

Betty enjoyed working the daily crossword puzzle, Wheel of Fortune, playing 42 and a challenging game of Spinner with her family. She liked to travel with her friends to the Branson Bluebonnet fields or take a cruise to the coast. She enjoyed Blue Grass Festivals, Charly Pride and George Strait music. She returned to Whitesboro, Texas in 2018 to attend her 65th high school reunion to reconnect with some of her classmates.

Betty was a strong Christian woman with a deep faith. She attended church whenever the doors were opened. She continued watching services at home on Zoom when her health started to fail.

She is survived by her son, David Ragsdale (Toni); daughters, Debra Balisone (Jim) and Kathy Fisher (David); five grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, October 5, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Ellis Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023 at 12:00 PM (noon) at Downtown Church Of Christ, 505 San Angelo St, with Greg Fleming officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Bobby Anderson, Kayln Poor, Collin Graham, Ethan Graham, Kaden Poor and Colt Abernathy will serve as pallbearers.