Betty Jo Davis

Our beautiful, blue eyed Mother and Granny went with the angels on the afternoon of February 16, 2022, to her Heavenly home with her family by her side.  Betty Jo Fare Davis, 93, was born in 1928 in Stamford, Texas to Jewel B. Fare and Maggie Mae Burson Fare.  She was the youngest of six children.  She grew up in Stamford and attended schools there.

In 1948 she married A.H. “Gene” Turnbow.  Even though this marriage did not last she helped with the business, Turnbow Music Co., and raised two daughters.

Mother was a fabulous cook and seamstress and loved to sing.  She could make any type of clothing. Her daughters never needed to purchase formals as Betty made them all.  She was a Sunday school teacher for many years always teaching the five years old.  She made nearly every lesson prop that was used in class. Her artistic abilities were passed down to her daughters and grandsons.   She was a member of Garden Club, Blue Bird and Camp Fire Leader, PTA member and President, and always helped with any school party or function.  She was a mother that was always there.  She was an employee of West Texas Utilities for several years.

Betty married Cecil Cothrum and they enjoyed many years of traveling, going to horse races watching their horse run, taking Carolyn to many rodeos, so she could compete in barrel races, and enjoying two grandsons who adored them.  Granny and Papa Cecil spent a lot of time with the grandsons.  Betty and Cecil moved to San Angelo in the 90s, so they could be closer to her daughters and grandsons.  They helped Ellen and the boys immensely through David’s illness and death.  They were always there.  She was a member of Newtimers, worked for Associated Publishing Company, and often modeled for local boutiques.

She and Paul J. Davis married and spent many happy years going to dances and entertaining friends and family. Mother still had a Valentine that Paul had given her in High School that stated, “You are the prettiest girl in school”.  After Paul’s death she moved to Baptist Memorial Retirement Community.  Betty loved living in the High Rise and made many wonderful friends.  She assisted in the gift shop, was a greeter at the front desk, and attended church while living at Baptist Memorial. Betty never knew a stranger.

Betty was predeceased by her parents, her three husbands; son-in-law, David Lassetter; Cecil’s son, Mark Cothrum; brothers and sisters - Ernest Fare, Bernice (Eddie) Homka, J.W. (Georgia) Fare, Beatrice (Dexter) Plumlee, and Faye Vaughn; nieces, Cindy Fare and Sharon Fare Hogatt; and a nephew, Steven Plumlee.

She is survived by daughters, Ellen Turnbow Lassetter (George Shankle) of San Angelo and Carolyn Jean Turnbow of May;  grandsons, Andrew (Pamela Hanson) Lassetter of Dallas and Adam Lassetter of Santa Fe, New Mexico; sister-in-law, Grace Fare of Sulphur, OK; special nieces and nephews who always stayed in contact with her, Debbie Fare (Don) Kulash of Edwardsville, IL., Marcella Homka Parry (Ron) of Richardson, Richard (Debrah) Plumlee of Clear Lake, and Johnny (Joan) Fare, of Thousand Oaks, CA; along with many other nieces and nephews and their families; Paul’s brother, Ernie (Sue) Davis of Slaton.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful people at Baptist Memorial for their care and love for Mother, the nurses and staff at Meadow Creek and Holly, Tiffany, and Lindsay, who were all so attentive to Mother.  Hospice of San Angelo, especially Sonya and all the other wonderful nurses, ministers, and staff.  You all played an important part of Mother’s last years.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of San Angelo (through West Texas Rehab), Meals for the Elderly, or Baptist Retirement Community.

Graveside services will be Tuesday, February 22. 2022 in Highland Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Tankersley Funeral Home.