Dates
Betty Jean Gartman was born August 25, 1940 in Moody, Texas. She was the youngest of three children. She passed from this Earth December 23, 2024.She left behind a legacy of love, laughter and kindness. Betty firmly believed in God and raised her family in the path of light.
Betty attended school in San Angelo and graduated from Central High School in 1959.She worked at the County Clerk’s office for several years, then later for the Selective Service. When her children were born she did childcare at home. Betty was an aide for the English Department at Central High School for many years before she retired in 1994. Betty wrote about first meeting Kenneth in Bible Class. In her own words “we were in our mid-20’s. We met at church one Sunday morning. I not only remember the day I first met him, but I remember the moment I saw him because my heart skipped a beat. I believe that God brought us together that day.” She married Kenneth Gartman June 6, 1970 and they shared over 54 years together. He was with her when she took her last breath on Earth.
Betty was quite the photographer. You could tell what she loved by the pictures she took. She took hundreds of pictures of family, flowers, pets and things that made her happy. Betty loved taking road trips. They loved to go look at wildflowers near Fredericksburg. They made annual trips to Cloudcroft New Mexico to vacation in the mountains and hike the trails. In her later years, Betty’s grandchildren took the spotlight. Laura, Emma, Nicholas and Josh spent one day a week they called Nonnie Day. Their time together included trips to the park, McDonalds and going to church. The grandkids had so much fun with their Nonnie. Betty loved her church family. She taught Pre-K and 1-2nd grade Bible classes for many years. She worked on many Bible Bowls with kids. She enjoyed the weekly get-togethers with her bunch and spent much of her time with her friends.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Eunice and T Gibson, and her brothers Bill Gibson and his wife Alva, and Jim Gibson and wife Cathy.
She is survived by her husband Kenneth Gartman, her sons Stephen Gartman of Coleman and wife Michelle Scott Gartman of San Angelo and wife Jamie
She had 4 grandchildren that she cherished. Laura Gartman, Josh Gartman, Nicholas Gartman and Emma Gartman. Nephews Terry Gibson and Ron Gibson, and nieces Sharon Yancy and Linda Weaver, along with numerous cousins and great-nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday December 27 from 5-7 at Harper’s Funeral Home. A Celebration of life will be 10 a.m. Saturday December 28 at Southgate Church of Christ, with graveside service following at Lawnhaven.
The family would like to thank Holiday Hill Nursing Home and Coleman Hospice for their compassion to Betty during the last months of her life.