Betty Jean (Miller) Collins passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2024 in Brownwood at the young age of 90. Betty was born July 6, 1933 to John Pharris Miller and Mary Elizabeth (Bryant) Miller in Montgomery, Louisiana.
Betty grew up on a farm in rural Central Louisiana near Verda. She attended Verda schools through the 10th grade, then moved to Houston, TX where she attended Aldine High School for 11th grade, and eventually received her GED. While attending school she worked first for Neal’s Meat market then Southwestern Bell as a long- distance operator. When working for Neal’s a coworker introduced her to his brother, Don or “Leon: as he was known then. Don asked her t go on a date at least seven times before she agreed. They were married on June 14, 1952 in a beautiful outdoor wedding at his parent’s home.
Shortly after they were married Don was drafted for duty by the United States Army. Life for Betty was never the same. Over the next 26 years she and their growing family followed Don from Houston to Colorado, Germany, Kansa (Manhattan, Ft. Riley, & Salina), Missouri, Texas (Austin, Ft. Hood, and back to Austin). Eventually building a home in Manchaca, TX. Travel became a way of life and after traveling extensively throughout Europe while stationed in Germany, they continued to explore the U. S. Their travels enabled them experience 49 of the 50 states. Among Betty’s favorites was spending a summer volunteering at a mission camp in Alaska.
Betty had been a homemaker for most of her married life and was active in her children’s sports and school activities, many times serving as a Room Mother and Cub Scout Leader. While at Ft. Hood, she again entered the work force when an opportunity opened with the local telephone company as a PBX operator. After moving back to the Austin area this experience eventually led to a position in Communications with the Austin Police Department. Betty retired after 21 years with APD in 1995.
A life of service was important to Betty. Not only did she volunteer in many ways for her children’s schools and activities, but also with her church, Manchaca Baptist Church, in various ways. She and Don teamed up with a group from church to help at the Austin Baptist Chapel Angel House Soup Kitchen. They also volunteered fixing and serving snacks during Vacation Bible School, preparing and serving meals at church for Wednesday night and special services. Other volunteer efforts included mentoring students at a local Elementary School and working with the Texas Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief on several deployments during Hurricane Rita. Many times, during their marriage Betty and Don opened their home to friends, family, and others in need of shelter and a loving environment.
Most of all Betty loved and enjoyed family. Not only her children and their families, but all of her siblings and their families. Many were the trips to Louisiana and the Dallas area to visit her brothers and sisters and their families. It started with trips to individual homes, but later event rooms ere rented to accommodate the large and growing family. There were equally as many trips to Houston to visit Don’s mother and his brother and family. Mostly she liked entertaining any and sometimes all of them at home. Betty’s many names included Momma, Mom, Nan, Nanny, Sis, Aunt Betty or simply Aunt Bet. Family history was important to her and she tried to share her knowledge of ancestors and their stories to everyone.
In between everything, Betty loved to work in her yard, read, write, sew, sing and collect funny sayings or riddles to share. Creative in nature, she designed many projects for Don to make or build, then she would put on the finishing touches.
Those left behind to cherish her memory are her children and their spouses, Donna Eckhardt and husband Bruce of Santa Anny, TX, Bobby Collins and wife Doreen of Pearl, MS, John Collins of Santa Anna, TX and Duane Collins and wife Lisa of Burleson, TX; Brother-in-law Robert (Bob) Collins of Houston, TX; Sister-in-law Mary Jane Miller of Scurry, TX; grandchildren, Stacee and Parker White, Troy and Amy Eckhardt, Heath Eckhardt, Anthony Collins, Kyle and Dawn Collins, Lauren and Josh Grant, John Collins, Jr, Ashley Collins, Megan and Daniel Coffey, Trevor Collins, Phillip and Sarah Lang; 13 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, John Pharris and Mary Elizabeth (Bryant) Miller; brothers, Luther Miller, John Huey Miller, James Edgar Miller, Floyd Pharris Miller, and Lee Herschel Miller; sisters, Wilma Ophelia (Miller) Sparks and Mary Belle (Miller) Kraemer.
Graveside services are to be held on May 3rd, 2024 at 1:00 PM in the Onion Creek Memorial Park Cemetery, 11610 Chapel Ln, Austin, TX 78748 under the direction of Heartland Funeral Home in Early, Texas.
Online condolences, memories and tributes can be made to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net