Bettye Minter, 93, of Center, passed away Sunday, June 2, 2019, in Center.

Funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at First Baptist Church in Center with Bro. Carl Smith and Hunter Page officiating.  Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Bettye was born August 19, 1925, in San Augustine, but spent most of her life in Center. She graduated from Center High School in 1941 and then attended East Texas Baptist College, where she earned a degree in music and met her husband, Pete.  Bettye and Pete had four children and were married for seventy years before his death in 2014. 

Bettye had many loves.  First and foremost, she loved her Savior, Jesus Christ.  She was very active in this church, singing in the choir and teaching five year olds in Sunday school for over fifty years.  Bettye loved her family.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loved music.  Bettye was a gifted musician, singing and playing the piano.  Her career was in music, beginning with public school music in her early years.  She directed choirs for two different East Texas churches as well.  She then taught private voice and piano lessons for many years.  Bettye went back to college for her special education and music therapy certifications and taught for Center ISD.  Her love for music and education touched literally hundreds of lives.

Bettye was gracious, loving, and kind.  She will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her children, Dr. David Minter of Fort Worth, Alan Minter and wife Jinny of Richmond, Marilyn Minter Ballard of Center, and Claire Minter Page and husband Jerry of Tyler; grandchildren, Mike Minter and wife Maggie, Hunter Page and wife Megan, Kim Ballard Shofner and husband Paul, Tracy Ballard Wood and husband Corey and Amy Ballard Roach and husband Kyle; great grandchildren, Maddox Minter, Maizy Minter, Connor Shofner, Reagan Shofner, Katelin Gould, Bailey Kurtz, Lainey Kurtz, and Emma Page.

Preceded in death by her husband, Pete Minter; parents, Ernest McNeil Moore Sr. and Bertha Iona Anderson Moore; son-in-law, Larry Ballard; and sister-in-law, Bonnie Moore.
Pallbearers will be Alan Minter, David Minter, Hunter Page, Mike Minter, Kyle Roach, Corey Wood, and Jerry Page.

The family would like to express appreciation to special caregivers, Jennifer Gray and Frances Ann Jeans, to the staff of Lakeside Assisted Living, to the staff of Pine Grove Nursing Center, and to Affinity Care Hospice for all the loving care given to our family.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com