Betty "LaRue" Hite

Betty LaRue Mooney Hite, 81, of Amarillo died April 14, 2019.

Visitation will be held from 6-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel, 4100 S. Georgia St. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18, 2019 at Paramount Baptist Church, 3801 S. Western St. Private interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery Mausoleum. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home.

LaRue was born August 3, 1937 in Kirkland, TX to Jesse Lee Mooney and Ethel White. The most important day of her life was when she became a child of God-August 16, 1948.

LaRue married Walter Bruce Hite on December 14, 1953 and their first child, Sandi Jean was born June 8, 1955. LaRue said being a mother was her best job. She served as many titles in the P.T.A., always a room mother and a Girl Scout Leader for 10 years. In time, that led to her becoming a professional Scout, teaching other ladies to be G.S. Leaders.

LaRue graduated from Amarillo College and then WTSU. She belonged to Eta Phi and held several offices. In 1975, she had twins: Matthew Walter and Marcus Bruce. It was an amazing year; they were the joy of her old age.

Amarillo Independent School District hired LaRue as an elementary school teacher in 1982. Teaching was a great occupation. She was an officer for the local ATPE office, then the region and served on the State Board of Directors. She retired in 2000.

LaRue enjoyed crocheting, knitting, embroidery, canning, baking and quilting. She won over 100 ribbons from the Tri-State Fair. She volunteered several years at BSA hospital and in 2002, she ran for Amarillo School Board, unsuccessfully. LaRue and her son Matthew founded the Amarillo Activity Youth Center in 2007 where she served on the Board of Directors and many other committees.

LaRue was a member of Paramount Baptist Church since 1994. She served on the scholarship committee for many years and was involved with the Prayer Quilt Ministry since it began in 2007.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Diane; and brother, Bill.

LaRue is survived by her brother, Martin Mooney; sister, Helen Price; daughter, Sandi Horton; sons, Matthew and Marcus Hite; grandsons, Michael Gray, Lucus Hite and William Hite; granddaughters, Laura Babbit and Elizabeth Hite; and great-grandaughters, Clara and Emily Babbit.

In lieu of flower and food for the family, donations can be made to the LaRue Hite Scholarship Fund at WTAMU or at the AAYC Community Center, 816 S. Van Buren, Amarillo, TX 79101.