Betty Jo Lemmon, a longtime resident of Spring, passed away on January 23, 2024. She was born on October 14, 1936, in Seagraves, Texas, to Sybil and Edward "Buddy" Hamilton. Betty Jo's family moved to Houston in her youth, where she attended Stephen F. Austin High School. At Stephen F. Austin, Betty Jo was a proud member of the Scottish Brigade Drill Team and an editor of the newspaper and the yearbook. There, she also fell in love with classmate Frank Lemmon—her future husband. They got engaged at the Senior Prom. After high school, she married Frank and went to work at Shell Oil Company as a receptionist to help pay for Frank's education at the University of Houston. Although Betty Jo did not attend the University of Houston herself, the couple's years of teamwork to secure Frank's education led to her lifelong support of the University. She spent decades of Saturdays in the stands watching Cougar football and associating with dear friends. She and Frank remained close with their friends from high school, with Betty Jo often taking a lead role in organizing class reunions.

Betty Jo and Frank started their family in 1959, with son Steve, followed two years later by daughter Susan. Betty Jo was a great mother and a devoted partner to Frank. In 1973, the family moved to Spring for Frank's career in the Klein Independent School District. As part of supporting her family, as her children's college years approached, Betty Jo worked outside of the home at the Iron Workers Apprenticeship Training School in Houston to help pay for college educations. After her daughter Susan, had children, Betty Jo was active in the care of two of her grandchildren, Carter and Jordan, so that Susan could thrive in her career.

Betty Jo was a social butterfly with many good friends. She was a favorite at any gathering—whether to play poker or bridge, talk investments, or plan the next trip. Betty Jo loved her family and friends, and they could always count on her. Her kindness, intelligence, good advice, and abundance of common sense will be sorely missed. Betty Jo is preceded in death by her husband, Frank, with whom she enjoyed 70-plus years before his death, and her younger brother, Don Hamilton. She is survived by her children, Steve Lemmon and Susan Parent, and their respective spouses, Linda Burgess and Allan Parent; grandchildren Carter (Amanda Parent), Jordan Parent, and Stephen Lemmon; great-grandson Paxton Parent; beloved younger sister, Sandy Pierson, and nieces and nephews.

Betty Jo's family and friends will celebrate her life on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 5:30-7:30 p.m. with drinks, dinner, and toasts at The Northampton Community Center, 6012 Root Road, Spring, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Klein ISD Education Foundation: https://www.kleinisdeducationfoundation.net.