Thursday, April 25, 2024
Betty Jo Castleberry Simmons Weatherly passed away peacefully in her sleep at 12:30 a.m. on May 4, 2020, in Granbury at the age of 97.
Betty Jo was born in 1923 in Murchison, Texas, to Alice and Alvin Castleberry. She was the oldest of six children. The family later moved to Dallas, and during WWII, Betty worked building airplanes, jeeps and trucks for the war effort.
Betty married Fred Simmons in 1950 and raised three sons in Irving, Texas. She worked for many years with her husband at Williamsburg Drug Store and Big State Drug Store, both in Irving. They retired to Lake Palestine near Tyler, Texas, where she enjoyed gardening, crafting and cookouts with family and friends. After the death of her husband, she married Joe Weatherly of Tyler, and they enjoyed many years of travel in Texas and surrounding states.
Betty is survived by two siblings, Lloyd Castleberry (Susan) of Tomball, Texas, and Becky Cornelius of Dallas, Texas; two sons, Michael Simmons and Edward Simmons (Jena), both of Granbury; granddaughters, Sharon Renaud (Bill), Sandra Reynolds (Tony) both of North Richland Hills, Texas; Pamela Simmons (Sean Murdock) of Mansfield, Texas; and grandson, Andrew Simmons of Granbury, as well as 7 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents as well as siblings, Max Castleberry, Grace Mascho, and Yvonne Potter; husbands Fred Simmons and Joe Weatherly; son David Simmons; granddaughter, Alice Simmons and grandson, Michael Ray Simmons.
Betty willed her body to science and will be donated to the UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. She wanted them to figure out how she lived so long.
The family wish to thank the caregivers and staff at Waterview The Cove Assisted Living in Granbury and The Oaks of Granbury Assisted Living Center, especially Sherry Kennington who cared for her at both facilities. We are also truly grateful for Ashley Pearson of Interim Hospice for her years of friendship and loving care.
