(January 22, 1932 – August 18, 2023)
As the sun rose in the Texas sky, the hint of a breeze entered the room, and with family holding her hand, Bette Jean Meador, age 91, peacefully transitioned to her eternal home, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
A Celebration of her Life will be held on Saturday, September 16 at 2 PM in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Hico. Private internment will be at Hico Cemetery.
Born Bette Jean Dodd on January 22, 1932 to the late Raymond & Lanella Egger Dodd in San Saba County, Texas. She was proud of her Texas heritage dating back to 1848 when her descendants moved to Williamson & San Saba Counties from the Carolinas. Bette moved to Hico at age 14, & lived here for 77 years. In January 2023, she moved to Grand Brook of McKinney Memory Care to live near her son.
She married E.V. “Buck” Meador on August 24, 1947 in Weatherford, Texas. In 1955, she & Buck purchased The Hico News Review, & together they owned & published the newspaper for the next 28 years from 1955-1983. She loved Hico & its citizens and through the years when there was anything for the promotion or betterment of Hico and this area, she was one of its biggest supporters through personal efforts and with their newspaper.
After selling the newspaper in 1983, Bette devoted her energy & efforts into the final years of raising she and Buck’s son, Christopher. In the 1990’s she opened a successful ladies clothing boutique in Stephenville, keeping with her long standing love of beautiful clothes, shoes & handbags. She was especially proud to offer employment to mature women, who because of their age, might not have been given the opportunity elsewhere.
She served on numerous boards & committees throughout her lifetime including The Texas Press Association, March of Dimes, Girl Scouts of America both on local & state levels, Hico Schools PTA, the Bluebonnet Country Club, & helped organize and direct the early productions of the Miss Reunion pageant at the Annual Old Settlers Reunion. In her younger life, she enjoyed playing on a local bowling league, and was a regular player in two Bridge clubs, well into her 70’s. She loved live local and national theatre, musicals and the Dallas symphony, attending productions at Casa Mañana, Bass Hall, and as a season ticket holder to The Dallas Summer Musicals. Later in life, she fell in love with travel, and had cherished memories with the Stephenville Travel Club, visiting 49 of the 50 states, Canada, & Mexico.
As a woman with a strong faith, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hico, where over the years she taught Sunday school classes, assisted with Vacation Bible School and served on various committees within the church including United Methodist Women & United Methodist Youth Fellowship. She was a long time supporter of the Methodist Children’s Home in Waco.
Bette loved her home & yard & she took great pride in maintaining both. She enjoyed decorating for holidays, especially Christmas, and was featured on the tour of homes several times over the years. It was always important that her outside decorations were up by December 1 to share her love of the magic of the season with others..
Survived by her son, Christopher Meador & spouse, Don Carlson of Allen; Daughter, D’Ann Wheeler of Hico; Sister, Susan Womack of San Angelo, 5 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by long time friends, who have been more like family; Peggy & Doyle O’neal, Dr. B.C. Dayton, Betty Miles, Stephanie Shepherd, Josh & Serena Sepeda, Judy Erick, Glenda French & Barbara Schneider. She was preceded in death by a son, Randle Meador; Daughter, Denna Gray; Brother, Bobby Ray Dodd; & Sister, Marcelyn Smith.
We are eternally grateful to the incredible staff of Grand Brook of McKinney & Anchor of Hope Hospice for the love & care you bestowed upon our mother in the final 8 months of her life.
If you so desire, memorials be made to First United Methodist Church of Hico, the local Schools or the Alzheimer’s Association.
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