Betty Smith Josey, 26 Dec 1930 – 3 May 2023

Betty Smith Josey (92), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023, surrounded by family at her home in Dallas, TX.

Betty was born in Austin, TX on December 26th, 1930, to Albert and Mary Emma (Monroe) Smith. At the age of 8, her family moved to Houston where she later graduated from Lamar High School in 1948. After graduation, Betty moved back to Austin and attended the University of Texas where she met the love of her life, Clinton Josey. They married three months later on August 20th, 1949. Soon after, in January of 1950, Betty & Clint moved to Dallas, TX where they spent the entirety of their marriage, and raised three daughters: Jennifer, Karen, and Melissa.

Betty was classy, elegant, and “one of the finest women.” As the matriarch of the family, she taught the importance of good friends, good food, and a good tube of red lipstick. She enjoyed puzzles, reading books, and loved the symphony. She was extremely active and loved to bike, play tennis, tap dance, and was an expert skier. She was a die-hard Cowboys fan and was proud that her love of sports carried down through her grand and great-grandchildren, and she still holds the “most competitive” award of the family. Her competitiveness carried over to her love of travel. Not many can say they hiked Tiger Tops, Nepal, water-rafted down the Grand Canyon, sat in Churchill’s chair in the war room in London, or rode the Queen Mary’s transatlantic cruise. From visiting the Galapagos Islands to enjoying time at their second home in Vail, Betty soaked up life’s adventures and befriended people everywhere she went.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Mary Smith, and her brother, Albert Smith, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Clinton Josey, of Dallas, TX and her 3 daughters and their families; Jennifer (Patrick) McPherson, of Paonia, CO; Karen Josey, of Austin, TX; and Melissa (Tom) Bookhout, of Decatur, TX; as well as 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held for Betty at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, 5100 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX, on May 13th, 2023, at 11:00am. Following the service, a reception will take place in the Great Hall.