Bettyanne Nethery

Elizabeth Anne "Bettyanne" Pratt Nethery went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 19, 2014, after several years of significant health challenges. At the time of her death, she was a resident of Kingwood, Texas.

Bettyanne was born in Portland Oregon on November 3, 1925 to John Warren Pratt, Sr. and his wife Elizabeth Katherine Heavey. She had one brother, John Warren Pratt, Jr, who was born in 1921. In the 1920's, the Pratt Family operated an early-days radio station in Hollywood, California until the Great Depression bankrupted that business. Her family moved to Dallas, Texas for several years in the 1930's, and then they settled in historic Galveston, Texas. Bettyanne graduated from Galveston Ball High School in 1942 and later received a B.A. degree in English from her parents' alma mater, Kansas University, in Lawrence, Kansas.

After World War II, Bettyanne married Maurice Johnson Nethery, Jr. in Galveston, Tx., on June 21, 1947. Maurice and Bettyanne operated the Nethery Ranch, East of Junction. Three sons were born to their marriage: Maurice Johnson Nethery III ("Skipper") in 1949; Neil Warren Nethery in 1951, and Lawrence Ray Nethery in 1952.

During the years she lived in Junction, Bettyanne was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir and was very active in Presbyterian Women. For over 60 years, Bettyanne was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, and served one term as Worthy Matron. While her sons were attending Junction Schools, Bettyanne was very active in PTA and was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the Texas PTA, by the Junction Chapter. She served 8 years as a Cub Scout Den-Mother for two different age-groups of boys, and supported her sons' activities in Boy Scouting. All three sons (Skipper, Neil, and Larry) achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. She served as Mother Advisor for the local chapter of Rainbow for Girls. She delighted in her membership in the Daedalian Study Club, with many dear friends, and attended the San Antonio Womens' Breakfast Club. Bettyanne worked hard to send her sons to college, and was proud that all three sons received advanced degrees. She enjoyed participating in the Aggie Mothers Club at Junction and was elected to two terms on the State Federation of Aggie Mother's Clubs.

In 1976, Bettyanne moved to the Dickinson, Texas area to take care of her parents in their old age. While a resident of Dickinson, Bettyanne was a member of the Dickinson Presbyterian Church, sang in their choir, helped with Vacation Bible School, and served two terms as an Elder. Bettyanne served as a tour docent, for many years with the Galveston Historical Society's Annual Home Tour. She enjoyed wonderful friendships with other Christian ladies in the Dickisnon area and regularly played bridge. Her greatest joy during the 1980's and 1990's, though, was spending time with her dearly loved grandchildren, as they grew up in East Texas.


Some of her hobbies included cooking, raising plants, collecting dolls, knitting, making cross-stitch items, hiking at the Nethery Ranch, walking on Galveston beach, playing bridge, reading, working cross-word puzzles, and spending time with family and friends.

During her final years, Bettyanne resided at a Senior Center in Dayton, Texas (from 2002 to 2009) and at Westminster House in Kingwood, Tx. ( from 2009 through 2014). During these years, she received the loving support of her sons and their wives; participated in Bible Study Groups, and was thrilled to welcome eight great-grandchildren into her family. All of her life, Bettyanne strongly believed in serving others, encouraging others, and praying for others --- even from her wheelchair or nursing home bed, and right up to the time she went home to be with the Lord. This year, she celebrates Christmas in the presence of the King of Kings.


Bettyanne is preceded in death by her parents, John W. and Elizabeth Pratt; former husband, Maurice Johnson Nethery Jr.; brother, John Warren Pratt Jr. and his wife, Alice Guzzi Pratt; granddaughters, Sarah Brehn Nethery, and Jennifer East Johnson.

Those left to honor and cherish her memory include her three sons and their wives, Skipper and Cindy Nethery, of Huntsville, TX., Neil and Stacy Nethery of Kingwood, TX., Larry and Carol Nethery of Yokohama-shi, Japan; four grandsons, Jarret Johnson Nethery and his wife Sarah, of Katy, TX., Zachary Cole Nethery, of Katy, TX., Major Nicholas Ryan Nethery (USAR) and his wife Jennifer, of Leavenworth, Kansas, Nicholas Clay Kosmas and his wife Sudina, of Kingwood, TX.; two grand-daughters, Julie Nethery Snyder and her husband Charlie Snyder of Katy, TX., Amanda Jane Nethery, of College Station, TX.; eight great-grandchildren, Ainsley Anise Nethery and Nolan Wyatt Nethery of Katy, TX., Avery Elizabeth Snyder of Katy, TX., Clyde Robert Nethery and Graham Asher Nethery of Leavenworth, Kansas, Robert Stephen Johnson Jr. , Megan Ashton Johnson, and Elizabeth Erin Johnson, of Duluth, Georgia; one niece, Dr. Camellia Pratt Clark and her husband Mark, of San Diego, CA; one great-niece, Natalie Clark of San Diego, CA.

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