Betty Jane Blanton Moore passed away in Houston, TX on March 14, 2020, her 84th birthday. She was born March 14, 1936 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.
Betty graduated as the valedictorian of Pauls Valley High School in 1954. In 1958 she graduated at the top of her class from the University of Oklahoma in Norman. At the time, she was one of the few women to major in geology. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, Pi Beta Kappa honor society, Mortar Board Honor Society and president of Chi Upsilon an, honorary geological society for women. She excelled academically at the University earning the Lottinville Award (outstanding freshman woman 1955), a place on the Letseizer Honor Roll (outstanding senior students) and the Amy B. Onken Award (awarded to outstanding Pi Beta Phi member in province, which included all of Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico). During her university years, she travelled extensively including time at the University of Hawaii and throughout Asia. One of the highlights in Asia was visiting Formosa (now Taiwan) and meeting Chiang Kai Shek.
After University, she moved to Houston, Texas and worked as a geologist at Mecom Oil. In Houston, she met Thomas Lee Moore and they married on March 2, 1963. They had two children, Christopher Wyatt Moore and Jennifer Blanton Moore. In 1976 they moved to their favorite vacation destination, Traverse City, Michigan, to continue to raise their family.
Betty’s passions were her family, friends, and her beloved dogs. Betty always put her family first and was committed to her children and grandchildren. She loved to host friends and always had at least one dog, if not four! She loved taking long boat rides on Long Lake in Traverse City and visiting with family and friends. Pauls Valley remained an anchor in her life and she often returned for extended visits with lifelong friends, holidays and festivities at the family ranch.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, James T. Blanton, Jr. and Jane Bowman Blanton, her brother, James T. Blanton, III and her husband, Thomas L. Moore. She is survived by her son, Christopher Wyatt Moore, his wife, Kaya and their two children, Estelle and Poppy of Emerald Hills, California; her daughter, Jennifer Blanton Moore Farnell, her husband, Michael and their two children, Alexandra and Michael (Bo) of Houston, Texas.
Her family wishes to thank Letty Miramontes, her caregiver and friend.
A family service will take place in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma at a later date. For friends desiring memorials, Betty would be thrilled if you made a gift to your local animal shelter.