Betty Kelley Allison, 79, passed away at her home in Abilene on Monday, August 3rd.

Betty was born in Abilene to Bill and Bracie Kelley on December 31, 1946. She grew up in Clyde with her parents, grandmother, and three sisters in a small house with outdoor plumbing. They also had three pet pigs named Big Fatty, Mannerly, and Curly Tail. In her later years she gleefully described to surprised younger audiences how delicious the pigs were. After graduating from Clyde High School in 1965, she moved to California to attend College of the Sequoias in Visalia and Fresno State. A second stint in California later saw this West Texas farm girl live in the middle of Hollywood in the late 60s, working as a waitress with a rare lack of acting aspirations.

Betty married her first husband, Jim Cochran, in 1973 and their son Joshua was born in Arlington in 1976. During this time she began a career with the Texas Department of Human Services, where she worked for more than 25 years until her retirement.

On August 23, 1986, Betty married David Allison, and they were married until her death just shy of their 40th anniversary.

Betty's greatest passion in life was her family. In retirement, she moved to Abilene (twice) to be near her sisters and to Nashville, Tennessee to be near her grandson, Jake Cochran. She also enjoyed traveling, taking many trips to Big Bend with David and a trip to Eastern Europe with her sister Linda.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Peggy Nunally and Linda Jones of Abilene, niece Kelley Tucker of Austin, and nephew John Bryant of Clyde.

Betty is survived by her husband David, of Abilene; son Josh, daughter-in-law Tracy, and grandson Jake Cochran of Nashville, TN, and sister Connie Kelley.

Funeral services will be held on Monday August 10th at North's Funeral Home in Abilene. Visitation will begin at 10:00 in the morning with the funeral to follow at 11:10.