Betti King

Betti Louise (Reid) King, 63, was called home by her Lord and Savior on May 21, 2015. Though her family was not ready to see her go, they are at peace knowing they will all one day be reunited again. Funeral services will be 10:00 am Wednesday, May 27 at Park Lake Drive Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Old Armour Cemetery in Coolidge, TX. The family will receive visitors from 6:00pm – 8:00pm Tuesday, May 26 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8220 Woodway Drive

Betti was born on August 20, 1951 to the late James and Louise (Mckaskill) Reid at Elmendorf AFB Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. Her father served in the Army and shortly after he was discharged, he passed away and the family moved to Winston Salem, North Carolina and then to Coolidge, Texas where her grandparents previously lived. When she was 7 years old she was the High School football mascot. Later on, she was a High School Cheerleader and during both her junior and senior years she was voted prettiest girl.
Betti graduated from Coolidge High School in 1969 and attended Navarro Junior College. Betti married the love of her life, Mr. Charles (Chuck) E. King, on January 6, 1973 and then received her degree in Business Administration from Baylor University in 1974. Chuck and Betti made their home in Waco and later built their dream home in Robinson, Texas where she began her career at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center. She later transferred to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Regional Office. She loved her job serving veterans and had a great career, retiring as a ratings specialist in 2011.

Soon after her retirement, Betti took on her full time role as NeeNee to her grandchildren. She was a member at Park Lake Drive Baptist Church. She looked forward to seeing her church family on a regular basis and treasured the time they had together. In her bible, Betti kept special verses and mementos that touched her gentle spirit and embodied her belief in the comfort God provided her.

Betti was very talented and poured herself into projects for her children, extended family, friends and career. She designed and sewed uniforms and costumes while her daughters were in drill team. She and her husband created elaborate floats for the Veteran’s Day Parade in downtown Waco. She also helped design the winning entries in the Scarecrow contest for the last two years at the Master garden Childrens’ Fair at the Woodway Arboretum. Betti enjoyed working in the garden and landscaping in her free time. When she was growing up, she would travel to the beach with her family and continued the tradition with her own children and looked forward to planning the trip each year. She always made it possible for everyone to attend the beach and have a great time soaking up the sun and company of each other.

Betti was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Chuck, soon after her retirement in 2011; but she most assuredly ran into his open arms as she reunited with him again. Her generous heart paved the pathway for a legacy that will live on with her survivors: daughter Christy Baish and husband Robert Baish and daughter Carrie King; brother Ralph Calhoon and wife Linda; brother Jim Reid and wife Janis; grandchildren Maycee Baish, Mollie Baish, Madisyn Neal, and Jayden Neal, all of Waco, TX. Betti also touched the lives of, and will be missed by a host of loving stepchildren, extended family, and friends – many of whom lovingly called her Mom and NeeNee.