Betty Jo Whitley
Betty Jo Parrish Whitley, 79, of Baytown, went to be with her Lord and Savior on November 5, 2016. She was born on April 15, 1937, to Charles Warner Parrish and Ruby Cassie Burditt Parrish in Lockhart, Texas. Betty married Jack C. Whitely, Sr., on Aug. 31, 1956, and they celebrated a rich and beautiful marriage for 55 years. In 1962, she and her family moved to Baytown, Texas,
where she lived the remainder of her life.
Betty graduated from Lamar University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1972. She became an elementary school teacher the following year, and taught for over twenty years. Betty loved to travel, play cards, spend time with her friends, but her true passion was spending time with her family.
Betty was an active member of First Baptist Church of Baytown, where she worked for a short time after retiring from teaching.
Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Jack C. Whitley, Sr.; her daughter, Teri Lynn Rhoades, of Baytown; parents, Charles and Ruby Parrish; four brothers: Sonny Parrish, Billy Parrish, Bobby Parrish and Lynn Parrish; one sister, Janice Seidel; father and mother-in-law, Alvin and Mary Whitley, of Prairie Lea, Texas; and special friends, Hollis and Jena Latimer of Hurst, Texas.
Betty is survived by one brother, Charles Parrish and wife, Betty, of Lockhart; daughter, Cheryl Dryden and husband, Tim, of Votaw; son, Chuck Whitley and wife, Sandra, of Baytown; eight grandchildren: Jana Vanya, Jordan Letsinger, Eric Dryden, Ross Rhoades, Kelli Fairall, Jodi Cutshall, Trey Whitley, and Chad Whitley; eight great-grandchildren: Makena Miller, Cameron Letsinger, Emma Dryden, Brook Dryden, Charlee Dryden, Hudson Vanya, Harper Vanya, and Lincoln Cutshall; sisters-in-law, Janet Gillis, of Austin, Pat Parrish, of Lytton Springs, and Betty Parrish, of San Antonio.
The family received friends from 5 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, at Crespo and Jirrels Funeral Home. A funeral service was at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, in the Chapel of Crespo and Jirrels. Burial followed at Sterling White Cemetery in Highlands. Honoring the family as pallbearers were Ross Rhoades, Trey Whitley, Chad Whitley, Eric Dryden, Cole Vanya, Brandon Letsinger and Doug Fairall.
The family has requested that memorial donations be made to The Ronald McDonald House. Arrangements are under the direction of Crespo and Jirrels Funeral and Cremation Services, 6123 Garth Road, Baytown 77521, (281) 839-0700.
