Betty DeVerter Obituary

Betty Jane DeVerter

Betty Jane Cox DeVerter, 90, passed away peacefully after an unexpected illness Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Findlay. Born July 6, 1935, in Abilene, Texas, Betty was the only child of John Murry and Eleanor Perkins Cox. She was raised in Abilene and went to San Antonio, Texas, to finish high school, where she graduated from St. Mary's Hall. Betty received her bachelor's degree in accounting in 1956 from the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

On August 31, 1957, Betty married Paul Logan DeVerter II in Abilene, Texas. While her husband completed law school in Austin, Betty continued her studies, receiving her master of business administration from the University of Texas in 1959. She authored an article on accountants' legal responsibilities that appeared in the December 1961 issue of Woman C.P.A., the official publication of the American Society of Women Accountants.

After graduation, Betty and Paul moved to Houston, where they raised their family. A loving mother and homemaker, over the years, Betty was involved in many of her daughters' activities, becoming a carpool driver, frequent Bunker Hill Room Mother, a PTA member, a Girl Scout volunteer, Troop treasurer, and Troop badge instructor, and an enthusiastic Markette supporter. At various times over the years, she was also involved with ladies' bridge clubs, the Houston Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, the Houston Art League, the Houston Junior League, and the local Tri Delta Mothers' Club.

A devoted Episcopalian, Betty was a long-time member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston. Betty enjoyed ministering in the Docent Guild, serving as a tour guide and providing information about the Church's Gothic architecture, its Gloria Dei organ, stained glass windows, and the symbolism of the worship spaces. She especially treasured the years she spent deepening her understanding of Scripture and building connections with the special women in her bible study group.

She was skillful at needlepoint and an exceptionally talented seamstress, creating beautiful clothing and accessories for herself and her family, personalizing her home with special care, and sewing garments for members of the St. Martin's choir. She was adept at bookkeeping and financial matters and served as Treasurer of DeVerter Locomotive Works, which made castings for air brakes, in support of Paul's railroad preservation activities.

Betty was well-traveled, with highlights including Atlantic crossings on the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth for a tour of Europe after college, trips with Paul to various locales and resorts hosting his bar association meetings, rail excursions to Mardi Gras in New Orleans with their dear friends on the club car "Good Cheer," wonderful family summer vacations with their girls across North America, and several cruises during their later years. A true anglophile, she enjoyed watching various British mystery series on TV.

Betty was an excellent cook and gracious hostess who enjoyed recreating dishes she had enjoyed on her travels in her kitchen. While she appreciated a good Manhattan, she also loved to discover new wines. Betty was usually the one testing a bottle of wine at restaurants, and with her refined tasting acumen, had no qualms about sending back any bottle not up to her standard!

Particularly fond of pansies, Betty was known for her beautiful dark purple African Violets that she tended in her front bay window in Houston. She was also extremely proud of many of the plants in the landscaping around her house, including her azaleas and Sasanqua camellia.

On her birthday in 2022, this lifelong Texan relocated to Findlay to be closer to family, moving into an independent living villa at Primrose Retirement Community. She appreciated the change of seasons in Ohio, enjoying the colorful fall leaves and the brilliant sunsets, which she described as God painting at his easel.

Betty is survived by daughters, Elizabeth Scott DeVerter Young (husband, Brian) of Findlay and Catherine Ann DeVerter (husband, Massimo Strazzeri) of Raleigh, North Carolina; two grandchildren, Kimberly Nicole Young Thompson (husband, Gabe) of Findlay and Logan Anthony Young of Clarkston, Michigan; and two great-grandsons, Wesley and Desmond.

In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her son, Paul Logan DeVerter III; and her granddaughter, Rebecca Paige Young.

Arrangements will be handled by Earthman Hunters Creek Funeral Home, Houston.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty's memory may be made to St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Houston, or Paul Logan DeVerter Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund for Chemistry, Wabash College, PO Box 352, Crawfordsville, IN 47933-0352 (wabash.edu/giving/); or to your favorite charity.

The family would like to thank Outreach Ministry at Trinity Episcopal Church, the staff at Primrose, the team at Bridge Hospice Care Center, and Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home for their care of Betty during her time in Findlay.