Betty (Graham) Farrell

Betty Graham Farrell, wife of Richard Coe Farrell, died Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at home after a long illness.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 8, 2017 at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral with Rev. Ken Keller as celebrant. Burial will follow in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia.

Betty, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. MB Graham, was born February 11, 1937 in Alpine, Texas. She was a graduate of Amarillo High School, where she excelled in tennis and enjoyed cheering the Sandies on to victory. She lived the slogan “Once a Sandie, Always a Sandie”. She attended University of Texas and was a member of the Pi Phi Sorority.

Her service to the community reflects the broad range of her interest and passion. Beginning with her work as an active Junior League volunteer serving the American Red Cross—Amarillo Chapter, Northwest Hospital Auxiliary, Children’s Theatre, Children’s Cottage, and the Halleluiah Singers Musical Therapy. Her committees of choice within the League included civic affairs, public affairs, educational projects and community arts projects. She remained a member of the League for 55 years.

These interests continued after her active League service. Betty’s love of life included her hunger for learning more about a myriad of subjects to her being committed to advocacy for the medically underserved and discovering ways their needs could be met.

Her love of the arts was evident in her commitment to the Amarillo Museum of Art as a Docent Coordinator, AMoA Alliance Board Member, AMoA Trustee, Achievement in Art Gala Chairman and member of the 30th Anniversary Committee. She loved sitting in the galleries by herself to review and contemplate the current art exhibition. When youth groups happened to be in the galleries at the same time, she took great joy in watching their faces as they also explored the art.

With the Lone Star Ballet she served multiple terms as a board member and for several years played the role of the Grandmother in the annual Nutcracker’s opening party scene. She was a founding member of both the Friends of the Amarillo Botanical Gardens and the ABG Oasis Society, a supporter of Panhandle PBS, member and former board member of the Amarillo Symphony Guild and a past-president of the Art Force of Amarillo College. In 2010 she was recognized for her exemplary service to the arts with the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Arts Committee—Golden Nail Distinguished Volunteer award. She and her husband’s names were found on the list of supporters for most every art group.

Working to better her community, she served as President of the Women’s Forum and was recognized with one of their Distinguished Women awards; was an advocate for Women’s Rights, particularly in the health care field; served on the Community Advisory Board of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health, where she was a member of the art selection committee raising funds to purchase artworks from local/regional artists for the central office. She was a valued member of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce serving as chairman of the Quality of Life Council, chairman of the Golden Nail Gala, and as a member of the Arts Committee, Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

Active in her children’s schools, she served on the Area Council for the Parent Teacher Association. She was a member of the Area Child Care Council, a board member of Catholic Family Service, and a faithful member of St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral. Wanting to share her love for Christ with others, she with friends founded the Women’s Bible Study, a cross-denominational group that met monthly to hear messages from Rev. Ken Keller, Dr. Jordan Grooms, and Msgr. Joe Tash.

Betty and her husband enjoyed traveling the world. Friends have remarked that their love and devotion seemed to grow as they grew older.

Throughout her lifetime Betty maintained a devotion to furthering the Arts in Amarillo and women’s issues. She chose to be patron of the Arts. She was known for her knowledge and love of the visual arts, music and dance. Betty held high standards for herself, her family and her community. She was gifted with an eye for beauty and a remarkable sense of style. She will be remembered for how generously she shared these gifts.

She was preceded in death by her son, Richard Coe Farrell, Jr; her parents, Marcellus “Bo” and Pauline Walls Graham; and a brother, Bobby M. Graham.

Betty is survived by her husband of 60 years, Richard Farrell, married on September 30, 1956; six children, Erin Anne Farrell Hyltin and husband John of Orlando, FL, John Graham Farrell of Amarillo, Tara Farrell Richardson and husband Joe of Amarillo, April Amanda Farrell of Amarillo, Patrick Thomas Farrell and wife Linda of Amarillo, and Christopher Michael Farrell and wife Cindy of Amarillo, her seven grandchildren, Sterling Hyltin of New York, James Richardson of Amarillo, Ryan Farrell of Amarillo, Bo Hyltin of Orlando, FL, Rebecca Hyltin of Orlando, FL, John Farrell of Amarillo and Colin Farrell of Amarillo; and her three godchildren, Elizabeth Marsh Davidson, Penny Patterson Massey and David Fraze.

The family request memorials to go to the Amarillo Museum of Art, Box 447, Amarillo, Texas 79178, 806-371-5050.