Betty Lois Brown Murrah
The daughter of the late Clyde Wilson Brown and Elizabeth Foster Brown, Betty was born on August 4, 1930 with her identical twin sister Berta Lou White in McAlester, Oklahoma and passed away on September 19, 2022 at her home in Ardmore, Oklahoma at the age of 92 years old.
Betty and William Eugene “Bill” Murrah were married on September 27, 1952 in Ardmore, Oklahoma and he preceded her in death on September 15, 2009. A long time Ardmore resident, Betty grew up in Ardmore and graduated from Ardmore High School in the class of 1948. Betty and Berta taught dance at their Mother’s studio Betty Brown’s School of Dance. Betty and Berta both received their Bachelors of Physical Education from the University of Oklahoma and while at OU her and Berta were members of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority and Big Women On Campus. Betty received her Masters of Physical Education from the University of Texas Permian Basin. Betty taught Physical Education at the Hillander School and at Midland College in Midland, Texas. She was the Cheerleading Coach at Midland College. Betty led the team to the National Championships and twice won the NCAA championship. In Midland Betty was active in the City of Midland swim team where her children swam competitively and the family attended St. Luke’s Methodist Church.
Betty and Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing and gun and gem collecting. Betty was an athlete and avid antique collector. In 1994 Betty spearheaded and chaired the first Ardmore Relay For Life. Betty was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ardmore. Her life was centered in her faith and she loved to serve. She was very active with the Wesley Sunday School Class, Friendly Neighbors and the Walk To Emmaus. She was a member of the Petroleum Wives, the Garden Club and the OSU Extension Club. She leaves to cherish her memories: daughter, Dana Murrah of Corpus Christi, TX; son, William E. Murrah, II of Ardmore, OK; daughter, Susan El-Awar and husband Nabil of Ardmore, OK; daughter, Emily Osborne of Woodland Park, CO.; daughter, Beth Patterson and husband, Richard Jackson of Ardmore, OK; grandchildren, Harrison Bunting, Samantha Berman and husband Samuel, Aimee Fuller and husband John; James Murrah, Camille Navarrette and husband Angel; Rebekah El-Awar, Chandler Buehler and husband Brian, Logan Osborne and wife Katelyn, Madison Price and husband Kiefer, William Osborne, Jesse Osborne, Kaleb Patterson, Joshua Patterson, Kristi Patterson and Koby Patterson; greatgrandchildren, John Walton Morris, Griffin Buehler and Olivia Osborne; brother, Ronald Brown and a sister, Patsy Spratt. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Bill; her identical twin, Berta Lou White; two infant daughters, Teresa Gae and Sandra Lee; and son-in-law, Kenneth Patterson.
Betty was a selfless servant and loved you no matter what. She loved all of God’s children. Betty made a profound and lasting impact on all the lives she touched and has truly left this world a better place. Funeral services for Betty Lois Brown Murrah will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the First United Methodist Church of Ardmore with Reverend Dan Patman officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.hdouglasfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Cross Timbers Hospice of Ardmore or the First United Methodist Church.
Services are entrusted to the Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home & Crematory.
