Betty Pannell

SHERMAN - Betty Blackerby Pannell passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Whitewright. Rev. Joe Ed Goolsby of the First United Methodist Church of Sherman will be officiating.

Betty was born Dec. 17, 1931 near Whitewright to Alva Blackerby and Edith (Clark) Blackerby. Betty graduated from Whitewright High School in Whitewright, and then attended Texas Woman's University in Denton, where she received her Bachelor's Degree. She continued her education with graduate studies at both Austin College in Sherman, and East Texas State University in Commerce.

On June 7, 1953, Betty married her high school sweetheart, Joe Glenn Pannell, in "The Little Chapel In The Woods" located on the campus of Texas Woman's University in Denton. Betty and Joe were blessed with 53 years of marriage.

During the Korean Conflict, Betty was employed at the Fort Sill Information and Education Center at Lawton, Okla. while her husband, Joe Pannell, was stationed there. Betty then followed Joe to Austin, where she was employed with the accounting department for the Texas Medical Association. In 1957 Joe joined the staff of Hestand Pharmacy in Sherman, Texas and Betty went to work for the Austin College Library, and later she worked for the Sherman Independent School District.

As a couple, Betty and Joe joined the First United Methodist Church in Sherman, Texas and became the sponsors of the Methodist Youth Fellowship. She later became a teacher in the children's department. Betty remained a member of the First United Methodist Church for the balance of her life.

Betty continued to help with young people by serving as the director of Campfire Camp Rio Roxo, and she also provided many hours of service to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sherman, Texas.

Additionally, Betty served as Precinct Chairman of the Republican Party and served with the League of Women's Voters as well as the American Association of University Women. Beta Sigma Phi Sorority was another organization in which Betty was a member and gave much of her time and effort as she also did while serving as the Director of the "Big Hop" for the Exchange Club.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Pannell, her father, Alva Blackerby, and her mother, Edith (Clark) Blackerby, as well as a grandson and an infant great-grandson.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Dawn Pannell Lynn, and her husband Brooks Lynn, of Keller, as well as her son, Joey Pannell, of Bells. Betty is also survived by three grandchildren, Heather Pannell and her son, Ryan of Sherman, and Peyton and Preston Lynn of Keller; her brother, B.J. Blackerby, and his wife Ollie, of Parkville, Mo.; her brother-in-law, Jack Pannell and his wife Vivian, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; her sisters-in-law, Peggy Truitt and Lynda Fleming, and her husband Weldon, of Bells, and several nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Blackerby, M.L. Blackerby, Dee Blackerby, Joe Mayes, Brian Blackerby and Sean Blackerby.

The family will receive visitors from 6 -8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013 at Waldo Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The First United Methodist Church of Sherman, Texas or Scottish Rite Hospital for Children located at 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas TX 75219-3993 or their website, www.tsrhc.org.

And online register may be signed at www.waldofuneralhome.com.

Services are under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home of Sherman.
Published in The Herald Democrat on August 6, 2013