Betty Mae Starnes

Betty Starnes passed away in Weatherford, Texas on November 8, 2015 at the age of 91.  She was born July 23, 1924 in Los Angeles County, California to Laura (Parkhurst) Carr and Stacy William Carr, Sr.  During her childhood Betty lived throughout Southern California and met her late husband, Hoyt T. Starnes, while she was employed at an Army base near Barstow, CA.  They were married on December 15, 1942 just prior to his overseas deployment in WWII and were separated during the war years.
After Hoyt’s discharge from the Army in 1946, they resettled in Carlsbad, New Mexico where Hoyt was employed at the Carlsbad plant of Southwestern Public Service and Betty was a homemaker raising their four children.  When the children were older, she worked as a school secretary at Eddy, Edison, and Otis elementary schools.  Her beloved husband, Hoyt, died in 1985.
Having always believed she had an artistic touch, Betty began painting and soon became widely known for her oil and watercolor landscapes.  Her work was sought by galleries throughout the Southwest and her work hangs in numerous private and commercial collections.  She was a founding member of the Carlsbad Artists Gallery and past president of the Carlsbad Art Association.  She was also active in civic affairs by presiding as an Election Precinct Judge for many years
Later in life Betty became passionate about quilting and produced many heirloom quilts for her family.  She was particularly proud of her charitable work in making over 300 quilts and blankets for sick children through the Linus Project, for which she received special recognition from Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth.
Betty is survived by her four children:  Robert and wife Jan (San Antonio, TX), Linda (Weatherford, TX), Wayne and wife Dru Ann (Weatherford, TX), and Steven and wife Shelly (Amarillo, TX); five grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. 

Visitation will be held for family and friends at Galbreaith-Pickard Funeral Chapel on November 11, 2015 from 4-6pm. She will be interred next to her late husband in Carlsbad, New Mexico Cemetery with a graveside service beginning at 10 am on November 13, 2015.

The family requests that a donation be made to a favorite charity in lieu of flowers.