Betty Parker

Surrounded by her children, Betty Lou Parker (McWatters) died peacefully on December 19, 2020 in her home in Beaumont, Texas following a brief illness and hospitalization.   

Betty was born in Texarkana Texas August 10, 1939 and raised in Pittsburg, Texas where she attended elementary though high school and later Kilgore College.  She owned and operated McWatters Real Estate in Pittsburg, Texas from 1978-1989.   A lifelong resident of Pittsburg until she relocated to Vermont in 1989.  There she owned and operated a tavern in the township of Vergennes until moving to Beaumont to be closer to family and grandchildren.  She spent a year in Blacksburg, VA living with daughter Amanda, who was on faculty at Virginia Tech University at the time.  Upon Amanda’s transfer to Rockefeller University in NYC Betty returned to Beaumont and took up the grand task of being a wonderful grandmother.  

During her professional career she was named Realtor of the year twice and Woman of the Year awarded by the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce 1984.   She was a Master Gardener and very involved in the city of Beaumont’s Best Years Senior Center were pottery became her latest passion.  Her sense of adventure led her to skydive on her 60thbirthday and she had hoped to one day hike the Appalachian Trail.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Henry Stanley Parker and Gladys Nadine Parker, Pittsburg, Texas; and her siblings, Carrol Parker, Stan Parker, Virginia Edison, Mary Helen Parker and Geneva Pynes.  

She is survived by her children Amanda McWatters of Houston; Bill McWatters (Michelle); Ross McWatters of San Marcos; and Alison Eldridge (Eric) of Beaumont and Galveston; grandchildren, Atom McWatters of Austin; Tia McLeroy (Drew) of Austin; Simon Gonzales of Portland Oregon; Dane Gonzales of San Antonio; Zoe Gonzales (Daniel Duong) Beaumont; Dylan and Danielle McWatters of San Marcos and great grandson Everett McLeroy of Austin in addition to many nieces, nephews and cousins.  She will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Due to COVID 19 the family will hold a private ceremony in her honor, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont, and plan a larger celebration of her life at a future date, when travel and gathering together is once again safe.