Bette Perot Obituary, Death – A bright and happy soul was left behind when Bette Perot passed away at home on January 3, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Bette Perot was the first member of her family to significantly influence Texas and the rest of the world. She was born on February 24, 1929, in Texarkana, Texas, to the late Lulu May and Gabriel Ross Perot. Bette Ross Perot, the adored elder sister of the late Henry Ross Perot, was a powerful and dependable force for good in her community and in the lives of those she knew.
She enjoyed working with her brother and sister-in-law as they talked about how they would use their good fortune to better their town and the world. She forged connections with nonprofit organizations throughout the metroplex and beyond during her 26 years as vice president of the Perot Foundation. She was in high demand for leadership and board positions at organizations like the Visiting Nurses Association, the C.C. Young Community Board, the North Texas Food Bank, St. Phillip’s School, and Community Center, the Board of Governors at Southern Methodist University, St. Mark’s School of Texas, and Saint Michael’s School due to her well-earned clarity, wisdom, and integrity.
Bette had a life of Christian service as a daughter, sister, sister-in-law, friend, remarkable aunt, and in other positions. Her family and her principles were her two main priorities in life. She was a devoted member of Highland Park United Methodist Church, where she participated in a number of committees and enjoyed a positive reputation as a Sunday School instructor for adults. Bette spent many years delivering Meals on Wheels for the Visiting Nurses Association, demonstrating how her deep understanding of the Bible and commitment to Christian principles molded her character and directed her life.
Everyone she knew was influenced by her example of servant leadership. She was the adored aunt to one nephew, four nieces, and nineteen great-nieces and nephews despite having no children of her own. Even those who weren’t related to her called her Aunt Bette and loved her. Bette graduated from Texas High School in 1946 after attending Texarkana Schools. She carried on her schooling at Texas Christian University, where she graduated with a degree in secondary education. For the remainder of her life, she remained a loyal supporter of TCU.
Later, she started working as a field director for the Fort Worth Girl Scout Council while pursuing a master’s degree in educational administration at the University of North Texas. Bette began her teaching career at Meadowbrook Junior High School, where she taught eighth-grade American history after joining the Fort Worth Public Schools. Early in her career, she was elevated to the vice principal and school counselor due to her swift recognition of her leadership abilities and innate capacity to give wise guidance. She was Southwest High School’s vice principal as well.
Bette adored playing golf at the Northwood Country Club in Dallas and the Shady Valley Golf Club in Arlington with her close pals. She enjoyed sharing her knowledge of roses, peonies, and gardening with her friends and family. She loved watching birds, too. Bette was calmed by contemplating what God had made as she admired the beauty of nature. She loved fishing, playing golf, and traveling on vacations with her nieces and nephews. Ross and Margot christened the brand-new Girl Scout Tejas Council camp in Athens, Texas, “Camp Bette Perot” in Bette’s honor in 1969.
In Keller, Texas, Bette Perot Elementary first welcomed students in 2004. The Northeast Texas Girls Scouts Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Bette in 2009. The St. Phillip’s School and Community Center launched Aunt Bette’s Community Pantry in 2019 to honor her 90th birthday. In 2018, the North Texas Food Bank opened the Perot Family Campus to honor Aunt Bette’s prolonged dedication to the fight against food insecurity. Bette received superb care from many kind people throughout her last years.
We will always be grateful to the great carers from Ardent Homecare, including Julie Titlow, Annette Head, Beverly Richardson, Joy Otto, Leanice Robinson, Saudat Gatibaru, LaQuana Gardner, Joyce Ouyo, Atam Tebit, Akunna Okoh, Ann Martin, Ellen Booth, and a number of others. Bette is survived by Ross (and his wife Tori), Price, Ben, and Clayton Mul. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Margot Perot, her nephew Ross Jr. and his wife Sarah, and her nieces Nancy and Rod Jones, Suzanne and Patrick McGee, Carolyn and Karl Rathjen, and Katherine and Eric Reeves.
Hill, Hunter, Sarah Catherine, and Meredith Perot (together with her husband Rob Gar) are some of her other grand- and great-grandchildren. Wallace McGee, Ross Mulford, Margot Mulford, and Dial Mulford are her great-grandnephews. Her name-bearing grandniece Bette Rathjen and her brother Henry Ross Perot predeceased her.
The family requests memorial donations in lieu of flowers are made to the Visiting Nurses Association, Highland Park United Methodist Church, Aunt Bette’s Community Pantry at St. Philip’s School and Community Center, and Camp Bette Perot for Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. Consider performing a kind act for a friend, neighbor, or complete stranger in your neighborhood to further celebrate her influence and pay tribute to a great life. On January 11 at 3:00 p.m., Highland Park United Methodist Church will host a memorial ceremony and reception.