Betty Jo (Erwin) Bounds Sanders

Mrs. Betty Joe Erwin Bounds Sanders, 89, of Temple, Texas, died Friday, September 15, 2023, at Scott & White Hospital.

She was born January 21, 1934, in Dobbin, Texas, to Vera Mae Erwin and Walter Drue Erwin. She was married to David Carlyle Bounds until his passing in 1974 and was married to Buster Sanders until his passing in 2015, and she was preceded in death by her sister, Elizabeth Gibson.

Betty Jo was the Head Cashier at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor for many years and was much loved in the university and the wider community.

Betty Jo began her lifelong adventure as a joyful rebel when she stole the family car at the age of 13 to go joyriding in Wharton. She later became an avid sports fan, always armed with her cowbell (even at home!) in order to gleefully cheer on the Houston Astros, the San Antonio Spurs and her number one passion: the UMHB football team. She dyed her hair purple; she was the second person in history to get season tickets after President Bobby Parker, and she attended home games up until last year. However, Betty Jo was also the epitome of Southern class. For her, a stranger was always a good friend she just hadn’t met yet. She made others feel special and loved to laugh, especially with her stylist June at Contessa salon, who catered to Betty’s passion to let out her Southern belle instincts with “big-hair,” perfect nails, bright lipstick and showy jewelry - and of course, a giggling catch-up on all the latest Temple “news.” Betty Jo also loved the life of being simple and down-to-earth.

She had a deep love of the land and visited her family homestead in East Texas as often as a busy mother could. She was not afraid to get her hands dirty and work up a sweat, whether working outside in the yard or helping out at the farm with her husband Buster.

Throughout Betty’s life, during the many losses and challenges that she faced, her life reflected the words of the hymn, “On Christ the solid rock I stand.” She was a devout Southern Baptist Christian and immersed herself nightly in the sermons from the great evangelists from her bedside radio. She made the world a better, more welcome place to everyone who knew her and came into contract with her.

Survivors include her loving daughter, Elizabeth Bounds of Temple; son, Walter (of Melbourne, Australia with wife Robyn), Bryan (of Harrogate, England with wife Deirdre); grandchildren, Belinda Choury (and husband Shaun), Jessie Bounds, Frankie Bounds, Ava Bounds; step-granddaughter, Maddison Edds; nephews, Ken Grasty (and wife Candy) and Tom Gibson; grand-niece, Lauren Buhler (and husband Jon); grand-nephew, Jason Grasty (and wife Kristen); great-grandchildren, Addison, Max and Eddie Choury; many other cousins, nieces, and nephews in Texas and Missouri, and deeply beloved friends of the family, including Dr. George Bartels and Vera Martin, longtime caregiver for Betty.

A visitation service for Betty Jo Sanders will be held at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 5-7pm.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 22, 2023, at Little Flock Baptist Church, located on County Road 4330 west of Bronson, Texas. Interment will follow at Little Flock Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Little Flock Cemetery Fund at PO Box 452, Pineland, TX 75958 or The Football Excellence Fund at the University of Mary Hardin- Baylor, 900 College Street, UMHB Box 8433, Belton, TX 76513.

Visit www.WymanRobertsFuneralHome.com for memories and condolences.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine.

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