Betty Jean Dean

Betty Jean Dean was born to Ruby Mae Childress and Aaron Guyton on May 17, 1938 in Lubbock, Texas. At the age of 1 ½, she was adopted by her great Aunt Beatrice White & Uncle Brooker White and later moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1941. She attended many schools along her educational journey which were Booker T. Washington, Percy L. Julian, Phoenix Union and South Mountain High School. She then later married and gave birth to two children, son Gary Lee Young & daughter Deborah Jean Young. After a divorce, she returned to school and attended classes under the Man Power Training Development and completed the Course in 1964. She later was employed by several companies which were Western Electric Company, Motorola Semiconductor, Sperry, City of Phoenix Parks, Recreation and Library Department (for several summers) and Cartwright Elementary School District. In 1984, she was employed by Cartwright School District to aid help in the classrooms and secretary for the Special Education Department which was her last employer. She really enjoyed this job, as she loved helping children. She met and married Thomas Calvin Dean, a school teacher from Bethune School. In 1969, she gave birth to their daughter, Sherilyn Jean Dean. Thomas and Betty now have six children, T.C.’s three children from a previous marriage; Richard, Stephen, and Frintre’ Dean. In 1976, she decided to go into Education and work for the Phoenix Elementary School District, after 4 years with the school district she attended Glendale Community College and graduated with her AA Degree transferring to Grand Canyon College furthering her degree in education.

Betty was a member of New Home Baptist Church, after her marriage she joined Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and later joined the choir to sing for the Lord. She later became involved in New Testament Christian Church of Glendale. Betty was a loving wife, mother and best friend that cherished family. She loved children and wanted a big family to share her dreams and journeys with. On January 3, 2018, Betty joined her parents, Beatrice and Brooker White; son, Richard E. Dean; her brothers, Billy Ray, Charles Dean, Frankie Johnson; daughter-in law, Donna Young; and cousin, Joe Earl Evans who preceded her in death. Betty is survived by her loving husband, Thomas C. Dean; her children, Gary Lee Young, Deborah Jean Young, Sherilyn Jean Dean-Mason {John Mason}, Stephen C. Dean, and Frintre’ Dean-Reynoso; her daughter-in-law Stephanie DeVeaux-Dean and son-in-law Michael {Debra} Baxter. Her grandchildren; Yashika Young, Kiana McCrary, Arnold D. McCrary Jr, Lauryn Young, Brittany Young, Sharieca Thompson {Ronald Thompson}, Alliessia Calvin, Rahsaan E. Dean, Chelsea Dean, Cydnea Dean, Ashley Dean, Paege Knox, Stephen Dean Jr, Tahtianna Mason, Jordan Dean-Reynoso and Joshua Dean-Reynoso. Her great grandchildren; Jazmyn Beasley, Jordan McCrary, Kenlei, Kayasah Thompson, Isis Thompson, Zyia Thompson, Journei and Lyric Thompson, Sean Dean, Isabella Dean, Brian Scott, Kurt Neal, Aryia Dean, Justice Dean, Antonio Dean; loving family Kyle Braden, Brandon Baxter; cousins; Joey Evans, Pastor Yolenta Walker, Carlos Johnson, Earrl Johnson and a host of loving extended family. Lifelong friends; David {Beverly} Wright, Joan Davis, Elbertzena Fontenot, Julia Engram and Louis (Josephine} Pete.