Betty Willis

July 27,1943, Betty Kay Connolly(Willis) was born in Dallas,Tx. She attended schools in Dallas and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1961.
In 1965, Betty graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She had one year of post graduate work that included an internship in Audiology at the VA hospital in Dallas. She was certified by the state of Texas as Speech and Hearing Therapist. On July 23,1966, she married Jerry Willis at the Ray Watson Chapel just across from the TCU campus in Fort Worth. She also had Michael Vern Willis in 1971 and Edith Michelle in 1974. In 1983, Betty obtained her Texas Real Estate License. In addition, she has attended numerous educational and political conferences over the years in such areas of concern as special education children and their learning problems, agriculture legislative concerns, and workshops for women in politics. Betty also served on the Board of Directors of Johnson County MHMR for a time during the 1990’s. There she served as Treasurer, as Chair of the legislative and finance committees, and as a member of the personnel committee. She also served as member of the County Extension Agent’s Board, and as President of the AMPI Dairy wives Association. Betty also was a full time volunteer for 6 and a half years as the administrative aide to the Democratic Party Chairman in Johnson County and during this time she was responsible for a proposal that brought two presidential candidates. In 1996, she received the Cleburne BPW woman of the year award. She had a Ladies clothing store in Downtown Grandview, Texas called the Country Clothes Closet for about 12 years. During the time she had her store, she had many fashion shows in and around the Johnson County area including many nursing homes. Betty used to say “ Every Woman is a special, beautiful, intelligent gift from God.’ She loved each and everyone of her customers! During the time she had the country clothes closet, she was one of the leading founders of the twice a year Antique Alley that originated between Cleburne and Grandview on highway 4. And in February 2004, Betty was presented the volunteer of the year award by the Grandview Chamber of Commerce.
In 2005, Betty became a nana to Jerry Patrick and in 2010 again to James Allen. She took lots of pride and joy in being a special nana to her grandsons. Until the death of Gayle Ledbetter, Betty was actively involved with her in different movements of the local Democratic Party.

She was the oldest daughter of John C. and Katherine Connolly. Betty had 3 brothers, Johnny, Jimmy, and Mike and one sister Kathy. Along with numerous nieces and nephews.


Betty Willis passed away January 8, 2021 in Fort Worth. Graveside service will be 2:00 P.M., Saturday, January 16, 2021 in Bethlehem Cemetery. Celebration a Life will be 1:00 P.M., Monday, January 18, 2021 at Field Street Baptist Church. Reverend John Glover will officiate. The family ask that you please wear a mask at services and practice social distancing.