Edith Frances Maeckel Betts
January 11, 1927 – March 20, 2018
Edith Frances Maeckel Betts passed away on the afternoon of March 20, 2018 after a courageous battle with congestive heart failure.
Visitation will be at Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Center in Bryan, Texas on Thursday, March 22, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A second visitation will be held on Friday March 23, 2018 from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. service time at the Industry Brethren Church in Industry, Texas. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Edith was born on January 11, 1927, on the family farm in Bleiblerville, Texas to parents Ed O. and Mathilde Kudlacek Maeckel. She was baptized April 10, 1927 by Rev. Antonin Motycka at Nelsonville Brethren Church and confirmed at the Industry Brethren Church on September 6, 1942 by the Rev. H. E. Beseda, Sr. She was a long-time member of the A&M Presbyterian Church, now Covenant Presbyterian Church. She was active in the Ladies Circle, a Lifetime Member of the Women of the Church and a church Elder.
Her early school days were at the Victoria School in Austin County, a one room schoolhouse. She graduated third in her class from Bellville High School in 1945 and received an Associate of Arts Degree from Blinn College.
Following her graduation from Blinn, Edith worked her entire adult life and retired at the age of 85 years young. She was a legal secretary, a church secretary, a sales associate at Montgomery-Ward, and held many positions during her 42+ years of service at Texas A&M University. At Texas A&M, she was the Registrar’s secretary before going to work in the Office of Admissions. She was proud of her service in the Admissions office, and particularly proud to have proofread items relating to the proposal for the Bush Library, as well as thousands of diplomas and Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. For her work, she earned the nickname of “Eagle-Eye Betts” and was the recipient of the President’s Meritorious Award in 2008.
Edith enjoyed learning about her family history, and spent many hours researching her ancestors who immigrated to Texas from Germany and Czechoslovakia. It was through this hobby she was able to locate and correspond with relatives across the world and put together the pieces of her heritage. In her retirement she enjoyed watching Jeopardy and other game shows to keep her mind sharp.
Edith was proceeded in death by her parents and brothers Marvin Maeckel and Leland Maeckel.
Edith is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Paula Betts of Brenham, grandson Will Betts and wife Kaleigh of Dallas, granddaughter Cayte Neil and husband Matt of Cypress, and great-grandchildren Beckett and Dinah Grace Neil.
Edith is also survived by her sister Lorene Maeckel Brown of College Station, sister-in-law Shirley Maeckel of Bellvile, niece Beverly Ward and husband Jerry of Colleyville, and great niece and nephews, Lindsay, Austin, and Nate Ward.
The family would like to thank Edith’s caregivers for their love and support.
Memorials may be given to Industry Brethren Church, P. O Box 73, Industry, TX 78944 or Heifer Project International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202.
Express condolences at CallawayJones.com.
Cayte, and family– I will miss Ms. Edith so much. She was a treasure and a role model to me in my first real job at Texas A&M. She taught me how to be a better editor, a better writer and a better listener. Any time I see a teal-colored pen, I think of her!
I give thanks for a life well lived. Edith was a wonderful lady with a phenomenal work ethic. I appreciate so much all she did for TAMU in her faithful service of 40+ years. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Edith was a sweet and special friend for many years. I will always remember her kindness to me and the example she set with her work ethic and Christian compassion. I remember her today with love and respect.
What a lovely woman Edith was. Those of us who worked with her during her long tenure at the University were privileged to learn from her every day. Her knowledge and precision, her stories, and her warmth will always be remembered with the utmost fondness.
The thoughts and prayers of the Maeckel family of Poth go out to all our relatives east of us. My dad, Gene Maeckel, loved talking with Edith about the Maeckel ancestors and life in the Industry area. She was the one that arranged a meet-up with a relative from Germany, Werner Möckel, when he visited Texas many years ago. She will be missed by all of us.
Edith was a very special person and we have dearly missed her at A&M since her retirement several years ago. She had an indomitable spirit and I’m sure that she touched many, many lives. I pray for peace, comfort, and strength for you all.
I was privileged to know Edith. We worked side by side at OAR where she taught me so many things about life, ancestry, publishing and finding the good in others. We shared laughs and special times together. Rest now Edith.
Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your loved one. May God comfort you in this time of loss.
Ms. Betts was one of my mother’s closest friends. Throughout my childhood I always remembered Ms. Betts as a steady presence both at church and as Mother’s friend. As I got older I admired how she lived her life well. No matter what was going on in her life she kept on living as she chose to live, with faith, dignity, and hard work.