Elizabeth "Betty" Tekell

Graveside services will be conducted for Betty Tekell, 95, on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, on N. University Ave, in Lafayette.  Betty passed away on May 16, 2023 at Rosewood Assisted Living. Pastor Rick Aultman of Mangham Baptist Church will officiate. 

Visitation will be held Thursday, May 18, 2023 from 10 AM until services, at Walters Funeral Home, 2424 N. University Ave, Lafayette, Louisiana.  

She is survived by three daughters, Ann Geyer of El Paso, Texas; Dr. Jan Tekell and her husband Greg Pierson of West Fork, AR; and Dr. Jean Aultman and her husband Rick of Mangham, LA; one son, Dean Tekell and his wife Arleen of Lafayette, LA; seven grandchildren, Jeremy, Joshua, Jamie and Jayci Tekell; and Nathan Aultman, Daniel Aultman and Rebekah Burns; six great-grandchildren, Zoey and Mack Tekell, Addison Grayson, Titus, Thea and Jude Aultman; and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.  She also has three nieces, Melinda Montgomery, Glenda Sessions and Tanya Hobbs.

She was preceded in death by her parents, the former Charlie O. “Totsie” Washburn and Grover Crawford; one brother, Tex Crawford; and three nieces, Jonelle Warkaske, Becky Stafford, and Darlene Brantley. 

Betty graduated from North Texas State University with a degree in art and later worked as one of the first female draftsman for Shell Oil Co. She married Vernon Tekell on October 18, 1947 in Kerens, TX.  She will be remembered as a loving mother who enjoyed fishing, Ragin’ Cajun Softball, sewing, gardening and crafting.   She could make everything from baby blankets to costumes and formal dresses.  Her lawn and garden were the envy of many.  In her retirement, she and Vernon took many wonderful worldwide cruises. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lafayette. 

The family wishes to thank her caregivers Ms. Lou, Kirsten, and Agnes; the staff of Rosewood Assisted Living, especially Gloria Sampy, Pearline Hickle and Ms. T; as well as a special thanks to her Heart of Hospice nurse, Erin Guidry. 

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, 1-800-832-6344, (www.stjude.org).