Betty Miller

Betty Jean Spear Miller, 95, passed away in Southlake, Texas on January 2, 2025. She was known as a wonderful, compassionate friend who embraced life with gusto. She enjoyed travel, good food, and puzzles, especially crossword and jigsaw puzzles.

She was born Aug. 16, 1929, in the infirmary at an oil refinery in Baytown, Texas, because that was the closest hospital. Betty was the daughter of Myrtle and John D. Spear Jr. She had one sister, Beverly Skeen Freeman of Destin, Florida, who survives her. The family traveled frequently as her father worked on oil wells. She graduated from Lamar HIgh School in Houston in 1947. Betty earned an English degree from Rice University in 1963.

 While in high school in Key West, Florida, she met her future husband, Frederick J. Miller Jr. Betty and Fred were married in 1950 in Laurel, Miss. Their first child, Susan, was born in Atlanta, Georgia, while he was in the Army. Subsequently, they moved frequently with his internal auditing jobs with Humble Oil, which later became part of Esso Oil Co. They were living in Houston when Fred III and John were born. Sarah joined them in Tulsa. 

They lived in London from 1967-1971, Then they returned to Houston, then to Connecticut for two years before moving to Miami, where they lived for nine years and where Betty enjoyed playing tennis. They then lived in Hong Kong, from where Fred retired. 

The first half of their retirement was in Big Canoe, Georgia. From there they moved to Southlake, Texas where they enjoyed spending time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Betty is survived by her four children; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and her sister Beverly. She was preceded in death by her husband Fred in 2017. A memorial service will come later with interment in Big Canoe. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to the Tarrant Area Food Bank, https://tafb.org/