Bettye DeSoto, 92, of Beaumont, died Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at Christus Hospital-St. Elizabeth, Beaumont. A native and lifelong resident of this area, she was born on May 12, 1924, to Mae Lilly Ezell and Jacob Cornelius Fuller. Bettye was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her daughter, Denise DeSoto of Beaumont; stepdaughter, Linda Burkhart of Port St. Lucie, Florida; daughter-in-law, Jo Rita West of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Donna Lynn West of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Debra Ann West of Fort Worth; great-grandchild, Savannah West of Fort Worth; lifelong friends, Audrey Morrson of Beaumont and Chandis Hudson of Sulphur, Louisiana; nieces, Kathy Chesser of The Woodlands and Gail Stratz of Morris, Illinois; nephew, Wayne Mize of Dwight, Illinois; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Louis Buford DeSoto; son, James David “J.D.” West; and sister, Lillian Mize.
A gathering of Mrs. DeSoto’s family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Saturday, August 13, 2016, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, August 14, 2016, at Broussard’s. A private family graveside will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713; or to Fisher House Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, Maryland 20850.
