Bettie Jean Browder

Bettie Jean Browder, 83, beloved Mother, Grandmother, and friend, was called to her eternal resting place on May 16, 2023. 

There will be visitation in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023.   

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, at the Pavilion in Faulkenberry Cemetery, with Pastor Don Morton officiating.

She was born Bettie Jean Lafoy on February 16, 1940, in Groesbeck, Texas to G.C. and Lillie Grace (Franklin) Lafoy. Bettie was the eighth of nine children and the youngest girl.  She graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1958 and shortly thereafter went to work for Gulf States Telephone Company.

On November 8th, 1960, she married Tommy Browder in Austin, Texas. They had actually planned to elope but her “soon-to-be” mother-in-law got wind of it and showed up with a wedding cake and flowers. They made their home in Groesbeck and in 1962, they welcomed their son, Jason and daughter Jacqueline in 1966.

In 1987, Bettie moved to Athens, Texas to work for Sprint after the telephone office in Groesbeck closed. She retired in 1990, after 30+ years of service, and returned home. In 1992, she went to work at the Mexia State Supported Living Center (MSS) and retired again in 2003.   But she wasn't done yet; in 2006, she came out of retirement again and returned to the state, retiring for good in 2011.

Bettie loved her family and was extremely proud of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a natural good cook without recipes, and famous for her “Biscuit and Chocolate.”   Her grandchildren would call and ask her to come over and make this for the family on Saturday mornings.  She had some of the dearest friends and loved them like family, too.  She was also a huge Dallas Cowboys fan and loved watching the games with family. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, G.C. & Lillie Grace Lafoy; her husband Tommy Browder and son, Jason Browder; her in-laws Weldon H. (Scrub) & Opal Holder Browder; brothers G.W., Billy Jack, Dewey, Charles and Doug Lafoy; sisters, Margaret (Lafoy) McCollough and Ivonne (Lafoy) Black; brother-in-law, William H. Browder; and several nieces & nephews.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jackie & Cody Darby of Mexia; grandchildren, Logan Telford of Salem, VA, Ariel (Telford) Willis and husband, Jeramy of Kingston, OK, Chelsea (Telford) Hudson and husband Jubal of Pottsboro, TX, Victoria (Torii) Telford of Azle, TX and Holder Smith of Mexia; and bonus grandchildren, Jordon Darby, Levin Darby and fiance Rachel, and Lacey Darby all of Mexia.  She is also survived by 11 great grandchildren, Emma, Evie & Eliza Telford, Jagger, River & Hazel Willis, Salem, Shepherd & Crosby Hudson, Elena Darby and Olivia Darby.   Her one surviving sister is Grace Marie LaFoy Weaver of Round Rock, and she has several nieces and nephews.