Betty Brooks Hansen, devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother and great grandmother and loyal friend to many passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the age of 84.

To know Betty was to know kindness, compassion and her warm, gentle spirit. She was the picture of a Southern woman, always polite and respectful but in no way a pushover. She definitely had that spunk and sass, but always dealt with a smile and a giggle. Which is why she had always made friends so easily and made all those around her feel comfortable and welcome.

She was born in Jackson, Mississippi on April 20, 1934 to Harry and Nellie Brooks. The third child of four and only daughter, she was close to her two older brothers Claude and Lenwood and younger brother Jimmy. Her father died in WWII when she was 10 years old. It was hard for Betty and her siblings to lose their father at such a young age, but were so blessed to have her father's close knit family by their side. In fact, many of her father's younger siblings became more like sisters and brothers than aunts and uncles. But her grandmother Bessie Brooks really became a close confidante in Betty's teen and college years. It was her grandmother who taught her how to oil paint and that became such a big part of her life. It was also her grandmother that encouraged Betty to go out with Karl and give him "second chances" so to speak because she thought they made a good couple. And they did—58 amazing and loving years.

Betty and Karl married on August 7, 1959 In Jackson, MS. Betty and Karl lived in many areas in the South and also a short stint in Bowman, North Dakota due to Karl's job before settling in Rosenberg, TX in 1970. Betty worked as a draftsman throughout the years, but the job she loved best was raising their two daughters Debbie and Sandy. She shuttled them to and from dance lessons, sewed their costumes and many of their clothes all the while taking care of their home and family. Betty was an animal lover and also volunteered at the Humane Society. As her daughters grew up and went off to college, married, moved away, Betty went back to painting. Already an accomplished oil painter, she tried different mediums and mastered china painting and charcoal pencil portraiture. Betty also loved gardening and took great pride in her flowers, particularly her hydrangea variations.

Betty was consistently active in her church and loved her close knit women's Sunday school class. She also played Bunco with the neighborhood ladies for many years where this gentle woman became "quite competitive" as her friends would say. In recent years, Betty struggled with Alzheimer's but wouldn't let it get the best of her. She remained the positive, outgoing, loving woman she always had been. Her husband and best friend Karl rarely spent much time apart. They loved to garden together, watch their favorite TV shows, take neighborhood walks, dine out for lunch or just take a drive in the country. It really didn't matter what they did, they were each other's best friend and that's all that mattered.

Betty was preceded in death by her mother and father and brothers Lenwood and Claude.

Betty is survived by her husband Karl, daughter; Debbie Hansen Dacus and her husband David of Houston, daughter; Sandy Hansen Sasser of Draper, UT, grandchildren; Taylor Dacus and his wife Megan of Houston, Travis Dacus and his wife Marisa of Richmond, Chad Dacus and his wife Caitlyn of Missouri City, Will Sasser of Denver, CO and Kate Sasser of Tustin, CA and many great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother; Jimmy Tadlock of Forest, MS.

Funeral services have been set for 2 PM, Thursday, June 28, 2018 at First Baptist Church of Rosenberg, 1117 1st Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471. Visitation and viewing will be from 1 to 2 PM at the church just prior to the service. Burial will follow in Morton Cemetery, Richmond, TX.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Betty's memory to the Alzheimer's Foundation at www.alzfdn.org.

Messages of condolence may be written for the Hansen family at www.garmanycarden.com

Arrangements are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281)342-4671.