Bettye Joyce Gordon

Following a lifetime of service to others, Betty Joyce Clancy Gordon, 94, passed from this earth on Sunday, September 7th in Waco following an extended illness.

Bettye learned the values of faith, family and service early. She was born in February 1931 in the Box Church community of Limestone County to Joe A. and Erma Deane Clancy. The second of five girls, she was raised on the farm and looked after the family being one of the oldest girls, attending Groesbeck High School where she played volleyball and graduated in 1948. After the family moved to Ferris, Texas, she met the love of her life, Harley Bryan Gordon, Jr., who soon accepted the call to the ministry. Bettye spent over 60 years as a preacher’s wife. She embraced the role of caring for her church family and together, they led Beacon Hill Baptist Church here in Waco. She and Bro Harley served at churches in Fair Oaks, Texas, Tyler, Texas, Houston, Texas and Chickasaw, Alabama before being led back to Beacon Hill. She attended Jacksonville College and was a Dorm Mother there while Bro Harley was in Seminary. She took on many leadership roles in the congregation over the years, including leadership roles in the WMA (Women’s Missionary Association), and was an active member until her death. She was a Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star as well. She also worked as a substitute teacher while serving at the church in Alabama, and in many cases, also served as the church secretary at the churches where God led them. She spent countless hours comforting people in their darkest hours with her kindness and attentive smile. Simply put, she loved you. Her greatest joy’s centered on family gatherings, friends and spending time with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She opened her home not just to family but to church members and missionaries crossing her and Bro Harley’s paths. But if you knew Bettye, you were a joy to her also. She made you feel that you were important to her – because you were! Even to the last day of her life, she offered a gracious “thank you” to everyone involved in her comfort and care, without regard to their importance to other people. That gratitude was just part of who Bettye was and she maintained her sharp wit until she took her last breath on this earth.

Bettye was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Harley B. Gordon, Jr., parents Joe and Deanie Clancy, sisters Doris Colleen Ayles and Joan Crane and great-grandson Eddie Ferguson. She is survived by her sisters, Sandra Nixon and Judy Malloy (Bill), son, Mark Clancy Gordon (Pon), daughter, Sandra Deeann Ferguson Moore, (Ralph). Grandchildren Edward Ferguson (Ashley), Bryan Ferguson, Daniel Ferguson and Abby Moore. Five great-grandchildren, Lilly, Daisy, Elsie, Lucy and Isaac. Also included are special extended and honorary family members including Dorothy Lewis and her family who Bettye cherished as her “other” family, and many members of Beacon Hill. The family wishes to thank all of you who enriched her life with your presence and concern.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed to Beacon Hill Baptist Church of Waco or Children’s of Alabama (Kid’s cancer Hospital in Birmingham, AL) in remembrance of Eddie Ferguson.