Betty Lou (Munn) Hodges

Betty Lou Hodges, 95, of Amarillo, Texas passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2023.  A Celebration of Life service will be 10:00 AM Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive, Amarillo, TX with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery Amarillo, TX. The Celebration of Life Service will also honor her daughter and son-in-law, Claudia and Richard Forbus. 

Betty was born in Goodnight, Texas July 8, 1928 to Robert Harper and Amanda Lucille (Caldwell) Munn.  The family moved to Amarillo, Texas in 1934 where she grew up and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1946. While singing in the choir at San Jacinto Baptist Church, she met WWII Veteran, Chief Petty Officer Marvin Hodges. They were married on New Year’s Eve 1946 in Amarillo, Texas starting their 35 year marriage filled with love, partnership, and family until the time of his death in 1981.

Betty and Marvin moved to Plainview, Texas to establish a business and had four children. They moved the family to Canyon, Texas where she lovingly raised her children. Once the children where school age, she worked at the Randall County courthouse for 13 years (1963-1976) as the Assistant County Auditor and eventually County Auditor.  After all four children graduated from Canyon High School, Marvin and Betty moved back to Amarillo where she worked at Southwestern Bell for 20 years (1976-1997) until she retired.

Betty led a long life full of love, nurturing, and perseverance. She pursued many hobbies such as sewing, baking, needle work, gardening, crossword puzzles, traveling, bowling, playing slot machines, and spoiling her grandkids.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Lucille Munn; siblings, Jeannie, Neil, and Bobby Munn; husband, Marvin; daughter, Claudia Forbus; and sons-in-law, Richard Forbus, Bill Whitten, and Don Hollingsworth.

Betty is survived by her devoted children: daughters, Kathleen Hollingsworth of Amarillo, TX and Marilyn Whitten of Memphis, TX; son and daughter-in-law, Kent and Monica Hodges of Amarillo, TX. Betty was known as Grandma to her seven adoring grandchildren, Christie and Lance Lair, Dee and Amber Yarbrough, Justin and Julie Hodges, Cory Hollingsworth, Whitney and Dwight Griffin, Dacey Hodges, and Hannah Hodges; and GG to her eight great-grandchildren, Zane Hollingsworth, Tyler Lair, Brenden Rodriguez, Zoe Hollingsworth, JD Hodges, TrewYarbrough, Eve Griffin, and Dean Griffin; as well as her one great-great grandchild, Alana-Jae Hollingsworth.

Betty’s sweet smile, strong pioneering nature, giving personality, and love of family will be deeply missed by all those fortunate enough to have been loved by her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to one of the many organizations Betty supported:

Cal Carley’s Boy Ranch @ https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation

Martha’s House @ https://www.marthashome.org

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.