Annie Beth Brian Roby was born to William Preston (Ted) Brian and Zona Inez Cherry Brian in Lorenzo, Texas on Wednesday, November 20, 1935. On Thursday, January 23, 2025 she left this world peacefully to join her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Annie Beth, known to all who knew her as Beth, married her life-long partner, Lex Roby at Dos Palos, California on December 23, 1955. They raised 3 children together: Rodney, Renee, and Becky.

Her education included high school graduate of Dos Palos, California High School in 1954; Sul Ross University, Alpine, Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968; University of North Texas of Graduate School in Denton, Texas with a Master of Science in Library Science in 1987.

Beth began her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher at Post First Baptist Church in Post, Texas, 1962. After moving to Odessa, she was a substitute teacher at Ector High School in the Ector County Independent School District prior to teaching 8th Grade Earth Science at Bonham Junior High School for six years, 1968 to 1973.

In 1973 the Roby family moved to Brownwood, Texas. Beth taught science in Bangs from 1973-1974 prior to teaching 8th grade science at the Brownwood Middle School from 1974-1982. After deciding her work with teaching middle school students science was not really what she desired, Beth followed her true calling which was a love of books and went back to school to get her master degree at North Texas Graduate School in Library Science with her Learning Resources Endorsement Certificate in 1986. From 1987-1989, she was employed with the Walker Memorial Library at the Howard Payne University as a Circulation Librarian and then the Periodicals Librarian.

From 1990-1992, Beth was hired by Bangs ISD as a Learning Resource Coordinator and school librarian. In 1992 Beth returned to Brownwood ISD as the district Library Coordinator and Secondary Librarian for eleven years with the task to digitize all district libraries across the district from 1992-2002. She retired from her education career in 2002.

Beth participated in several book clubs in Brownwood. She was a former member of the Junior 20th Century Book Club and was president from 2000-2001. She enjoyed giving book reviews and usually volunteered when they needed someone to step in. Around 2018 she joined the NightTime Book Club and was a member until her passing. Beth, known to many as a gypsy, loved to travel from the time she was a child. As she got older, her love for travel was shared with Lex and their family. Some of the many trips they took involved camping in their 5th wheel and motor coach. Their travels included the mountains in New Mexico, Colorado, and California; but her favorite place was walking along any beach with her feet in the sand, wind in her face while picking up seashells. Her love for traveling and camping really started with her friends from Dos Palos who spent summers in the Arizona desert, especially at Quartzsite where everyone was boondocking. An added benefit was sharing her love for music with Lex as
she accompanied him on the keyboard as he sang and played his violin while with their friends. She could also be found at the quirky bookstore trading books and visiting with the locals.

In November of the year 2000, Beth was invited to be one of two librarians from Texas to represent the Children’s Literature Delegation to Australia under the People to People Ambassador Programs. During the trip she celebrated her 65th birthday with her first snorkeling experience. What an honor to be one of thirty delegates in this group! Beth enjoyed traveling to many other places including Canada, Prince Edward Island, The Bahamas, and Ireland.

Beth loved reading as evidenced by her profession, a librarian, and her own home library consisting of 100s of books. Throughout Beth’s life, she influenced and changed the lives of many who knew her. Beth loved teaching and encouraging youth to enjoy all the benefits and adventures discovered on the pages of a good book.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Inez Brian, one brother Preston Brian and wife Ruth Brian, one sister Cherrydel Brian, as well as a host of other relatives. Survivors include her brother Tom Brian, and (Ann) of Topeka, KS; her husband Lex Roby of Brownwood, Texas; son Rodney Roby, and (Connie) of Montgomery, Texas; daughter Renee Setser and (Michael) of Grapevine, Texas; daughter Becky Jordan and (Rick) of Mason, Texas. Additional family are 7 grandchildren: Jill Aydelette, (Wisdom), Heather Roby Umphenour, Melanie Roby, Shellie Carson, (Kelly), Shane Setser, Brooke Jordan Payne, and Ryan Jordan, (Ty); 11 great grandchildren (Aria, Nathan, Kiir, Jaylen, Darius, Lex, Nate, Eden, Soren, Nolan, and Evelyn) as well as a host of additional relatives.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, February 1, with Bill Slaymaker officiating at Heartland Funeral Home in Early, Texas, with visitation at 1:00 PM-2:00 PM. Internment will be at 2:00 PM, Sunday, February 2, at Lorenzo Cemetery in Lorenzo, Texas. http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/Wtx/Crosby/cemetery/LorenzoN.html

In lieu of flowers the family ask that memorials be made to the Brownwood Education Foundation at https://www.supportbisd.com/

Please share a memory and sign the family guestbook at https://www.heartlandfuneralhome.net