MARY LITTLE BETTIS

The family and friends of Mary Fawn (Little) Herrington Bettis will gather to commemorate her life and legacy. Mary, weakened by the many brave battles already waged to preserve her health and independence, very reluctantly left us on Saturday November 8, 2008 at the age of 82. Visitation is scheduled at Robert Massie Funeral Home in San Angelo from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Monday November 10, 2008. Funeral services are pending at McNett Funeral Home in Andrews with burial at Andrews County Cemetery. Her body will be laid to rest beside her parents and her beloved son Leldon Max Herrington while her spirit, already brimming over with love given and received, goes on to inherit unlimited joy and peace. These rewards are well earned. After surviving typhoid fever at age seven, she worked at age twelve caring for the sick. Marrying D. B. "Pete" Herrington (now deceased) in 1942 at age 15, Mary had a son and finished beauty school and worked, paying off all those expenses by the time Pete returned from active duty. She has owned several beauty shops, including Mary's Beauty Shop in N.E. Andrews and Mary B's Beauty Shop in Mertzon. At age 81 she managed between surgeries to complete 12 credits via internet to renew her cosmetology license for what would be the last time. Biographical data shows that Mary was born to Walter Herbert Little and Mary Ermine Brister Little on September 29, 1926, in Runnels County. She was the youngest of the six "Little" children; these are Ina Ellen Jeffreys, Allie Ann Abbott, M. V. "Sandy" Little, Hattie Otelia "Tillie" Cook, Juanita Estellene Crump Sowders, and Mary. Only sisters Tillie and Estellene , whose husband is Jack Sowders, survive Mary, but niece Earlene Jeffreys Fisher has been the same as a sister. Mary's surviving children are Larry David Herrington with wife Dixie Butler of Del Rio and Sandy Leroy Herrington with wife Carol Beth Neely of Las Vegas, Nevada. Grandchildren are Larry David Herrington, Jr., and Robert Leldon Herrington. Mary's great-grandson is Robert's son Nathan Daniel Herrington, and step-grandchildren are David's Heather and Jimmy and Justin. Heather's five-month-old Alyssa Bohannon is the step-great-great granddaughter. Marrying Harold J. Bettis ,now deceased, in 1975 extended Mary's family, so she is also survived by stepdaughter Kim with husband Kenny Hunter and their daughter Megan. Harold's sisters Jean Smith and Jewel Barfield and brother Carl Bettis have also joined the extended family of those who love and admire Mary B. Mary's sixteen nieces and nephews have been very special to her-several say they owe Aunt Mary "big time" for rescues and timely moral support). This group includes Earlene Fisher, Doylene Raney, Cynthis Keel, Frank Abbott, Ilene "Cookie" Harral, LaQuita Cooper, Tommy Crump (deceased), R. A. "Dick" Crump, H. V. "Harry" Crump, Louise Mikkelsen, Irene Blair, Barbara Ward, Mary Francis Fletcher, Cathy Willis, Lynn Massey, and Donna Massey. Friends and beauty customers, who usually became close friends, are far too numerous to list. Still, following are a few who were close by during these last trying times: Darlene Lansford and husband Billy Bob Williams, Lois Banzet and son Larry Lister, Johnny Wales, the staff and residents of Rio Concho Terrace and Patio Homes, Pastor Ed McCorkle, Margaret of Angels, Hilda Ruiz and neice Edna Troncoso, the caring staff at Shannon Hospital, and Mary's doctor of over twenty years-Peter Chang, M.D. Thanks to the talents of "Mary B."-hair dressing, sewing, cooking, and advice-giving-many many people have been better looking, better fed, and better behaved. She is already greatly missed. In lieu of flowers the family would like any donations be made to West Texas Boys Ranch.