Heaven gained an angel and a piece of our hearts as Betty Ann Franklin Hawk departed this world on Saturday, August 2, 2025 surrounded by her daughters and eldest granddaughter. She was born in Mead, Oklahoma on June 7, 1935 to Frances Marjory (“Frankie”) and Samuel Wesley Franklin, Jr. – a few minutes after her beloved twin brother, Bob.
Betty was known for her beautiful complexion, but her true beauty radiated from within. She loved her daughters and grandchildren fiercely and completely, and was always their most supportive cheerleader. She will always be their guiding light and guardian angel. Betty loved children and was a firm but fun and encouraging teacher. Second grade was her favorite because she said the children were still sweet but had developed a little independence by that age. As proof that she loved kids, she taught Sunday school (mostly kindergarten) because raising three daughters and teaching school didn’t provide enough interaction with children?
She also cherished her friendships – at school, church and her neighborhood – but perhaps her two favorite groups of friends were her fellow handbell choir members and her bridge-playing friends. Betty touched the lives of everyone who had the joy of knowing her. Her warmth, grace and generous spirit will be remembered fondly. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength and compassion that lives on is all of us.
Betty is survived by her daughters – Julie Edgerton and her husband, Larry, of San Saba, Texas, Susan Sexton and her husband, Rusty, of Prosper, Texas, and Karen Howerton and her husband, Matt of Wilsonville, Alabama. She is also survived by her grandchildren – Blake Edgerton of Richland Springs, Texas, Heath Edgerton and his fiancé, Emily Wirth of Schertz, Texas, and Alyssa Edgerton Boutwell and her husband, Cullen of New Braunfels, Samantha Howerton of Birmingham, Alabama, and Holly Howerton of Wilsonville, Alabama; and her loyal terrier, Mackie. She leaves behind dear friends from each church in which she served as an elder, deacon or Sunday school teacher, fellow bridge players in each town in which she lived and educators in each school in which she taught. Betty was preceded in death by her parents; twin brother, Robert Drury Franklin; uncles Charles Franklin, Joe Franklin, Bruce Gooding and June Gooding; aunts Melba James and Doris Rabun; and cousin, Glen Rabun. The family would also like to recognize Betty’s wonderful caregivers, Odilia and Martha and thank them for their love and support during the final months of her life.
After graduating from Durant High School as one of five honor graduates, Betty attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University before transferring to the University of Oklahoma where she became a loyal “Boomer Sooner.” She attended OU during the “Undefeated Years” and never saw the Sooners lose a football game. She earned a BS in Education in 1957 and taught for a year in Midwest City, Okla., before accepting a teaching position at an elementary school in Hobbs, N.M., where she met and married, Bobby John Hawk. Her daughters were all born in New Mexico but the family moved to Odessa when they were very young. Betty taught at Burleson, San Jacinto and Burnet elementary schools. She attended, taught Sunday school, played in the handbell choir and served as a deacon at First Presbyterian and an elder at Westminister Presbyterian churches in Odessa. She and her mother were both installed as elders in the Presbyterian church in 1987. In 2012 she transferred her membership to First Presbyterian in Midland and joined the handbell choir. She moved to Manor Park in March of 2020 where she enjoyed the friendship of her neighbors and fellow bridge players.
Obituary provided by Legacy.