Earlene “Pepper” Granger Bethea, 87, a beloved wife, mother, teacher and friend to many, passed away on August 4, 2025. Born on July 2, 1938 in Brownwood, Texas, to Frances Force and Monroe Granger; Pepper’s gift for acceptance, understanding and inspiration touched the lives of her children, students, and countless others seeking direction.
She met her husband, Dewayne, in 1957 in the Student Union Building at East Texas State University, and was immediately smitten. Four years later they were married and enjoyed a loving 65-year marriage.
Pepper spent 30 years teaching American History at Chapel Hill High School in Tyler. If you were a student anytime between the 60’s to the 90’s, it is safe to say if you took Mrs. Bethea’s Freshman American History class, you (hopefully) learned something about Reformation, the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, and D-Day.
When not in the classroom Pepper was a great lover of the arts, taking Kim to thousands of dance lessons and discussing Charlie Brown and Dungeons & Dragons with Ken.
She was also a hobbyist, enjoying stamp collecting, letter writing, musicals, travels to Europe, antiques, scrapbooking, and was a tablescaper long before it was a word. And she was a voracious reader, consuming two to three books a week up to the time of her passing. She was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church and a true believer in Christ our Savior.
Pepper is survived by her husband Dewayne Bethea; their children, Kim Melanson and Ken Bethea, daughter-in-law Heather Bethea; three grandchildren, Molly Mobley and husband Cody Mobley, Audie Bethea and Eliza Bethea; and two great grandchildren, Rhett Mobley and Rhylee Mobley.
A visitation will be held at 12 PM on Saturday, August 9th at the First Baptist Church in Caddo Mills. A celebration of Pepper’s life will be at 1 PM, followed by a graveside service and interment at IOOF Cemetery in Caddo Mills.
