Betty Lynn Stice

With hearts full of love and gratitude, we honor the beautiful life of Betty Lynn Stice, who passed away on January 25, 2025, at Cox Medical Center in Branson, Missouri. She was 78 years old, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend who left an unforgettable mark on the hearts of all who knew her. Born on November 25, 1946, in Pampa, Texas, to Robert and Betty (Phillips) Futrell, Betty was raised in a home filled with love and laughter alongside her sisters. She endured the heartbreak of losing her baby sister, Nancy, at a young age, a sorrow that shaped her strength and deep compassion for others. As a teenager, Betty found joy in the performing arts, starring in high school plays and even making it into the local newspaper for her talent. But the greatest drama of her youth was a love story-the one she shared with David Lee Stice, the love of her life. They met in Odessa, Texas, at the Moose Elk Lodge when she was just 16 years old. Their love was tested when her mother moved her out of Texas to separate them, but David's devotion never wavered. He wrote her love letters every day until her father stepped in, moving the family back to Odessa, bringing the lovebirds back together. On April 10, 1965, at a Lutheran church in Odessa, they were married, beginning a lifelong journey of love, resilience, and adventure. Their journey was not without trials. Their first child, Carol Lynn Stice, was born prematurely and lived only two days-a loss that Betty carried with her always, speaking often of her love for her little girl. Betty and David built a life together full of determination and faith. They moved to Houston, where they started Jewish Rag Company, a business they built from the ground up. When a devastating fire-one that made national news-took everything, it was their Jewish friends and community who helped them get back on their feet. It was during this time that Betty and David found their faith in the Lord, and together, they led their family in a life of faithful devotion. They lived on Lake Houston, where they raised their children, made lifelong friends, and created a home filled with love and laughter. Summers were spent on the road, traveling across the country in a fifth-wheel mobile home, just like the movie RV with Robin Williams. Every trip was an adventure, with Betty at the heart of it all, making memories that would last generations. As life brought change, Betty and David moved back to Odessa to be closer to family and invested in real estate properties. When the oil bust of the 1980s hit, Betty's determination led her to earn a college degree in social services, proving once again that she was a woman of strength and resilience. After losing her beloved husband in 2016, Betty found solace in the mountains, moving with her daughter Lynn to the Ozarks, where she could be surrounded by water, trees, and the beauty of nature. She spent her final years in the embrace of family, with the love, laughter, and song of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren surrounding her. Betty was more than a devoted wife and mother-she was a fierce protector; in her words, "a woman who ran with the wolves", and a soul that left a lasting imprint on all who knew her. Life was not always easy, but she met every hardship with unwavering strength, faith, and love. Her family called her blessed, her friends called her sister, and she was adored by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Betty Lynn Stice is lovingly remembered by her sons, Robert David Stice, known as Bobby, and David Lee Stice, Jr., affectionately called Little, along with his wife, Linda Hendrix. Her daughter, Lynn Deen James-Young, and her husband, Aaron Young, also hold her memory close to their hearts. She was a devoted sister to Susan Jane Futrell Riad and a beloved aunt to her nephew, Sharif Riad. Betty was a cherished grandmother to John Michael James, Joshua Edward James and his wife, Sandra James, Jacob Lee James and his wife, Kelli James, Logan DeMoss and his wife, Haley DeMoss, Katelynn Marie Stice, Noah David Stice, Zachary Lee Stice, and Serenity Dawn Janosik. She was also blessed with great-grandchildren, Levi DeMoss and Rowan Reece James, who brought immense joy to her life. Betty was reunited in eternity with her beloved husband, David Lee Stice, her infant daughter, Carol Lynn Stice, her parents, Betty and Robert Futrell, and her sister, Nancy Jean Futrell. Her love, strength, and unwavering devotion to her family will forever be remembered and cherished by those who were fortunate enough to know and love her. A funeral service to honor and celebrate Betty's life will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 10:00 AM at American Heritage Funeral Home. Following the service, she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband in American Heritage Cemetery. Betty's life was a testament to love, resilience, and unwavering devotion. She was a woman of great faith, endless strength, and unbreakable love. Though her presence will be deeply missed, her legacy will live on in the hearts of those she loved. "Her children rise up and call her blessed." - Proverbs 31:28

Tributes

Betty Lynn Stice

November 25, 1946 - January 25, 2025