Betty Jo Hunnicutt Obituary (1930 - 2022)

Betty Jo Hunnicutt was born in San Benito, Texas on 23rd April 1930 to William Austin Ainsworth and Emma Virginia (Lockwood) Ainsworth. She died on 1st June 2022, and has now entered into the nearer presence of our Lord. Betty Jo, BJ as she was known to close friends, was born and raised in San Benito. She graduated from San Benito High School in 1948. She married Oscar Lee Hunnicutt on Easter Sunday, 28th March 1948 at First Baptist Church in San Benito. She lived, worked, loved and cared for her husband, and raised her sons in San Benito for the ensuing forty-three years. Betty was an inspiration to those closest to her. She was born with low vision, color blindness and all the attendant life challenges related to those conditions. Being legally blind, she was never able to drive. In spite of these daunting limitations, and with the help of glasses, magnifiers and tremendous patience and determination, she managed to sew clothing for her family and to take in work as a seamstress. That work, and her hometown reputation as an exceptional seamstress and dressmaker, led to employment at Scaief's Fabrics at the corner of Stenger St. & Sam Houston Blvd. in San Benito. She worked as a salesperson there for a number of years, relying on family members for transportation, or walking to and from work when necessary. When the fabric shop relocated to Harlingen, she found work at Frankie’s Beauty Salon as manager of Frankie’s Boutique, a ladies clothing and accessory shop at the salon. During her long employment there she was able to walk the few blocks to and from work every day, all the while managing to keep a meticulously clean and orderly home. Throughout those years of employment outside the home, she managed to provide selfless love and care for her family. The things she willed herself to do, in spite of her blindness, remain a marvel and an inspiration to those who knew and loved her. In retirement, she and O.L., as Oscar was known, moved to Mission, Texas in 1991 where they built a home in Aladdin Villas. Until shortly before her death at 92 years and 39 days; almost completely blind, Betty was living independently in her Aladdin Villa home with the regular, loving care and attention of her eldest son, John. Her life was an example of tenacity, and self-giving love to those closest to her. Her sons call to mind a number of similarities between their mother and the industrious wife whose virtues are extolled in the thirty-first chapter of the Old Testament book of Proverbs. Betty was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, as well as her sisters, Virginia Harvey and Dorothy Ann “Dot” Turnipseede; and brother, W. A. Ainsworth Jr. She is survived sons, John (Kay) Hunnicutt of McAllen, and The Rev’d. Samuel (Julianne) Hunnicutt of Junction, Texas; grandchildren, Christie Hunnicutt of Hamden, CT, Heather (Stephen) Griffin of Houston, Seth Hunnicutt (JennaLynn) of San Antonio, and Adam Hunnicutt of San Antonio; great-grandchildren, Jacob and Logan Griffin and Addison and Bailee Hunnicutt. A family graveside service will be planned for Mont Meta Cemetery in San Benito, Tx at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of The Ric Brown Family Funeral Home of Mission. Any who wish to honor BJ’s memory are encouraged make a memorial donation to the work and ministry of Aurora House Hospice, 2646 W 18th St, Weslaco, TX 78596. “Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Betty Jo. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.”