The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Betty Jean Russell Conway, 88, of Little Cypress, passed away on November 24, 2021, surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be her nephew T-Ray Vincent. Burial will follow at Parish Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Born in Swartz, Louisiana, on June 2, 1933, she was the daughter of John Russell and Ethel Shell.

She graduated from Little Cypress and enjoyed playing basketball during her time at school. Betty worked for 38 years as a secretary for various principals at Little Cypress Elementary. She enjoyed sewing and often crafted dance costumes and custom clothing for her daughter. Betty was an ever present force in her families lives, always showing up to cheer her grandchildren on at all of their sports and recitals.

She was a member of Little Cypress Baptist Church but spent many years at North Orange Baptist Church, forming many valuable friendships that she would keep for a lifetime at both churches. Betty loved bowling, cooking, and crocheting blankets for her and the family. She was an incredible mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be deeply missed and remembered by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 43 years, Thomas “Welba” Conway; brothers, Chuck Russell, Doug Russell, Kent Russell, Ronnie Russell, Gary Russell, and Babe Russell; and sisters, Lillian Loper, and Gwen Vincent.

She is survived by her daughter, Diane Brown and Jody Kelley of Little Cypress; grandchildren, Philip Brown and wife Melissa, Aleena Rambo and husband Cory, Skylar Brown and wife Nichole; great-grandchildren, Bryce Rambo, Parker Brown, Logan Brown, Braxton Rambo, Ava Rambo, Maeyah Brown and Cole Brown; sister, Gloria “Sissy” Granger and husband Charles of Orangefield, Bill Russell and wife Mary of Orange; and sister-in-law, Rose Russell of Little Cypress. Serving as pallbearers will be Philip Brown, Skylar Brown, Cory Rambo, Bryce Rambo, Parker Brown, Braxton Rambo and Logan Brown.

A special thanks to Heartfelt Embrace Assisted Living for the excellent care they showed to Betty and the way they treated her like family.