Betty Ann (Tyler) Horne

Betty Ann (Tyler) Horne passed quietly from this earth Thursday evening, December 12, 2024.

Betty was born on September 22, 1936, in McRoberts, Kentucky, to Lucinda and Joseph B. Tyler. Betty grew up with her five siblings in Eastern Kentucky, but at age fourteen, she went to live with her Aunt Rose and Uncle Jesse Tyler in West Liberty, Kentucky, living with them throughout her high school years. Betty graduated from Morgan County High School in 1954, and attended Mayo State Vocational School in Paintsville, Kentucky, where she met her future husband, Earl Smith Horne.

Betty and Earl married on August 24, 1956. In 1958, Earl’s job with Mason and Hanger took the family to Amarillo, Texas. In 1970, Betty and her family moved into the River Road school district northeast of Amarillo, and in 1971, she began her lengthy career in the school district, retiring in 2000, after serving as River Road High School secretary for most of those years. As high school secretary, Betty worked with many different principals, teachers, coaches, counselors, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, nurses, paraprofessionals, and students, all of whom would attest to her kindness, her generosity, her humor, and the love she had for her fellow man. She was truly beloved by those who knew her at River Road High School. Some of her dearest friends were co-workers there.

As much as she was beloved by those who knew her at work, she was held in even higher esteem by her family. Betty was a loving wife and mother. Her three children, Lucinda, Mary Ellen, and Joseph will forever remember how she invested her time in them: reading stories, singing songs, drawing paper dolls, cooking, baking, telling stories, laughing, talking, and listening.  She was fun! She instilled values in her children that they hold dear: love of God; love and support of family, friends, community, and others; enjoyment of simple things and the ability to persevere.

Betty was preceded in death by both of her parents, all her siblings and her best friend Earl.

She is survived by her daughters, Lucinda of Amarillo, and Mary Fulce (Robin) of Panhandle, Texas; son Joseph Horne (Lorraine) of Amarillo; three grandsons: Matthew Horne and his fiancé Olivia McDonald of San Marcos, Texas; Jacob Horne of Dallas, Texas, and Derek Fulce of Panhandle, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.

Betty Horne had a heart as big as Texas. All who were fortunate enough to know her would agree because they had been touched by her kindness. She was a beautiful lady with a beautiful soul, and we are blessed here in this world because she was in it.

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