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Dana Lloyd (Comer) (1970)
Obituary for Betty Rae Lloyd
Betty Rae Fontenot Lloyd of Pinehurst, Texas was born to Lillie Maude and Moiless Joseph Fontenot, Sr. in Lake Charles, Louisiana on February 21, 1948. Betty left us to be with Jesus on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. It was a beautiful thing to witness.
She joined her parents, and her baby sister Della Ann Adams so that they can prepare for the love of her life, Michael Wayne Lloyd I, her children, Stuart Wayne Lloyd and Rachel Christine Lloyd Adams, brothers, Moiless Joseph Fontenot Jr. and Richard Bullard, and sister Nannette Brooks. Don’t worry, there’s more: daughter-in-law, Tab Lloyd, and Betty’s grandchildren Michael Wayne Lloyd II and wife Lisa Lloyd, and Connor Wayne Lloyd, as well as son-in-law, Buddy Adams and the many more grand and great-grandchildren, Erin Nicole Adams (great-grandchildren Kylee, Kayden, and Kennedy), Austin Adams, Jordan Crockett Adams (wife Sarah Jean Adams), Wiley Hunter Adams and wife Cassie Adams (great-grandsons Fischer and Ranger), Karsyn Rae Adams, Raeley Ann Adams (great-granddaughter Ayla Rae), and baby girl Braedann Grace Adams, who sees every moment with Meme as a special one.
No worries, she’s preparing the place for everyone, including many in-laws, nieces and nephews, friends and family-members-by-choice! She will make sure there is room for every important person in her life. “The more the merrier,” as she used to say.
Betty Rae found her love early in life, and married her high school sweetheart, Michael Wayne Lloyd I, on June 10, 1967 after dating since October of 1964. At this point, they begin the legacy of love that reaches deep and wide, making it impossible to trace the effects, as it reaches not only to blood relatives but those without the biological connection as well. Betty Rae spent the early part of her adult life dedicating her time to raising her children, Stuart and Rachel, and helping raise nieces Jaymi and Nikki with both love and discipline. Michael and Betty were together for 56 years, 54 of those as a loving, married couple. The love these two have for each other is an example beyond comparison.
Once the time came, she moved on to investing her time in the lives of other children at Colonial Hills Elementary School (later named Odom Elementary), first as a volunteer and then as a teacher’s aide. It is here that she developed her adult friendships that lasted a lifetime. There’s not one thing she wouldn’t do for the students there, Bunko group friends, or those who came to be known as the “Golden Girls.” This is the time when Betty Rae really perfected her hostess skills– “hostess with the mostest” as she referred to herself. She could throw a party like no one else, making sure that everyone in attendance (and some in absence) felt like a welcomed part of the group, with a package of some sort with their names on it. Chances are, many people in her life received some representation of their birthstone. Whether or not you knew what yours was, no worries! Meme knew. She knew your birthday, birthstone (she loved her purple amethyst, didn’t she?), anniversary, event date, special time, death date– WHATEVER! If it were of something significant, Betty knew it, and helped you commemorate it with a card or gift. Every time.
When it came to friends and family members, Betty Rae knew no boundaries in helping those in need. Whether it be driving for hours and hours to stay home with a sick child, or to attend a beloved friend’s loved one’s funeral, or just to make sure someone was okay, Betty would do it. She regularly provided Christmas gifts for families she didn’t even know, and when anyone showed gratitude for anything she did, Betty would say something like “Well of course I did. I am here for you.” To others, she simply said, “I love you, Butthead.” She often replaced the role of the people we were missing in our lives–whether that be the role of mother, grandmother, aunt, or friend, she helped us fill the large gap in our minds and hearts so that the sting of absence didn’t hurt so badly.
Betty and Mike always enjoyed the company of others in the back yard with a beverage of choice (not zinfandel– her friends cured her of that), but the backyard really became a happening spot once these two moved to Pinehurst. Betty loved to watch the deer and birds, especially. If no one could identify the bird, she would take out the bird guide and they’d identify it together. Regardless of how small (coffee in the morning) or how big (holidays and events) the gathering at Mike and Betty’s, your presence did not go unnoticed. Betty made sure to welcome you as if you had always been there and were coming home, regardless if you were the loud outgoing type or the quietest of introverts. And, however you felt about the cheese dip/chocolate cashews and chicken and dumplings (with and without onions), you knew they were her go-to meals when preparing food for a crowd.
If you were fortunate enough to see Betty outside of her and Mike’s home, she would meet you with a smile and more than likely share a picture or two with you. She loved her grandkids and great-grandkids, and was so proud of each of their life steps. She would share them with the world. Betty was very good at fostering relationships with the people in her community. (Just ask her oncologist or the butcher at Kroger!)
If you hadn’t heard from Betty in a while, she would call. “What are you doing?” would be her first words to you, SOMEWHERE in the conversation, she would say, “AMEN,” and she’d usually end it with “Well, okay Darlin’, I love you.” before hanging up. She had her favorite words she used with each of us, but the ones you can still hear her say to all of us are “AWESOME,” “AMEN,” and “I love you.”
Betty and Mike’s legacy is that of love for yourself and for others. Mike knew from the first time they went out in 1964, that Betty was the one for him. That instant love has grown exponentially over time within their family and their community. Betty will be missed for her humor and compassion, but mostly her love. She was and is still an example on how you ought to love and be loved.
“Well, Okay, Darlin’. I love you.”
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