Betty Jo came into this world on June 20, 1932 to the parents of LB Smith & Novis Billingsley Smith in Haskell, Texas. She grew up on a ranch in west Texas and graduated from Crowell High School in 1950. She married John Wesley Burks on June 26, 1954 in Dallas Texas. They celebrated 34 years of marriage before his passing. She began her career at Southwestern Bell Telephone in 1950 and started out as a switchboard operator. She and her husband jointly retired on Feb 14, 1984 to enjoy life and moved to their lake home in Quinlan Texas. She was always with a book in hand as she loved to read, loved her hummingbirds but especially her cats and dog, who will miss her greatly. She especially loved her church, First United Methodist Church of Quinlan, and her church family. She left her earthly home to relocate to her Heavenly home on January 20, 2020.
Waiting to greet her with open arms are her husband, an infant son, her son John Wesley Burks Jr, her parents LB & Novis Billingsley Smith, and half-brother, JV Cunningham among others.
Those left to cherish her memories are her daughter Pamela Burks Solkema, daughter in law Debra Barrett Burks, grandchildren Jennifer Mask (husband Jason), Christopher Solkema, Sharlyn Martinez, Heather Olguin (husband Jaime) and Phillip Coston. Loving her with memories are her brothers Don Smith (wife Clara), Harvey Smith (wife Judy), and sister in law Imelda Cunningham. She also leaves 8 great grandchildren and 2 great grandsons, numerous nieces and nephews.
Burial in Grove Hill cemetery in Dallas TX
