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Betty Houston

October 2, 1954 - April 10, 2014
Muskegon, MI

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Service

Friday, April 18, 2014
12:00 PM EDT
Mount Herman Zion Baptist Church
2400 Sanford St
Muskegon Heights, MI 49444
(231) 739-5561

Life Story / Obituary


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Although she accomplished so much of which to be proud, there was nothing that Betty Houston considered to be of greater significance than serving the Lord she loved with all her heart. She was warm and gracious with an inviting demeanor that made her a stranger to none and a friend to all. A devoted mother if ever there was one, Betty loved her children with all her heart, but she just may have argued that becoming Gran Gran to her precious grandchildren was her greatest reward. Life was not always easy for her, but she was an independent woman filled with a quiet strength that carried her through the storms of life that came her way. Betty will be deeply missed, but she leaved behind a legacy that is deeply rooted in unwavering faith, unending compassion, and unconditional love that her family will carry on for generations to come.

It seems only fitting that Betty’s story began during a time that was as vibrant as she was. It was the 1950s when Elvis Presley transformed the music industry with his rock ‘n roll music, televisions were becoming part of our living rooms like never before, and drive-in movies became a favorite form of entertainment. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1954 that brought great joy to a bustling family from Empire, Alabama, as they welcomed a healthy baby girl into the fold on October 2nd. Betty Ann was the seventh of eight children born to her parents, and she was raised in the family home in Empire, which is now part of Mobile, alongside her siblings, Micky, Jean, Margaret, Martha, Mike, Johnny, and Laura.

Betty’s earliest years were spent in Alabama, but after the death of her mother when Betty was just 11 years old she went to live with her Aunt Willy Mae in Ohio. As she grew into a teen she was quite a handful, even described as a wild child, and became too much for her aunt to handle. It was then that Betty moved to Muskegon to live with her older sister, Margaret. School was never really a good fit for her, and she was a known as a rough and tough girl who got into trouble bullying other kids. Betty eventually quit school, and when she was 16 she gave birth to her first child, Christy, in 1970. Shortly thereafter, Betty met and married James Houston, and together they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Omeka, in 1973. After their relationship later ended, Betty raised her children on her own while living with her sister, Margaret.

Over the following few years, Betty had several relationships, and by the time she was 26 she had given birth to four more children including Tommie in 1975, Torrie in 1976, Stephanie in 1978, and Timothy in 1980. She finally settled down a bit with Tommie Lee Miles who helped her raise her children. Betty was an active part of her children’s lives, and she was often involved with them in their school and extracurricular activities. She and her children lived in various places during those years but primarily in the Jackson Hill area of Muskegon. Betty’s children loved it when she took them to the drive-in movies, often sneaking them in by hiding them under a blanket in the back of the station wagon.

To support herself and her children, Betty worked in a variety of industries. She spent some time working at the Heinz Pickle Factory in Holland, the Bilmar Turkey Farm, and at Hayworth making furniture. Betty eventually became a certified nursing assistant and spent 10 years working at Roosevelt Park Nursing Home until health issues forced her to quit working.

Life was forever changed for Betty when she accepted Christ as her Savior when she was in her thirties. From that point forward, her faith was a vital part of her life, and she was a member of Mt. Hermon Zion Baptist Church where she served on the usher board for a time. Betty lived to serve and said that her worst fear was that she wouldn’t be able to do the things that Jesus asked of her as her life’s focus was to please God and his son, Jesus.

Throughout her life Betty was one to be busy. She was thrilled beyond measure when her family grew to include 20 grandchildren, who affectionately called her Gran Gran. Betty loved fishing whether it was off the shore of Muskegon Lake or on various fishing trips to Baldwin. She liked watching baseball games, doing puzzles, and watching old westerns on television or classic movies. Although she made friends wherever she went, Betty also appreciated just being by herself and having quiet time. The last ten years of Betty’s life were spent at Bay View Towers Apartments where everyone knew her and she established several friendships.

With unending love for her family and countless others around her, Betty Houston was such a blessing. She came to fully embrace the Christian faith while raising her family, and her life became living, breathing example of what it means to be the hands and feet of the Lord she loved. Betty was outgoing and bubbly, a genuine people person with friends too numerous to count. She will never be forgotten.

Betty Ann Hardin Houston died on Thursday, April 10, 2014. Betty’s family includes her son, Timothy (Jennifer) Houston of Muskegon; 5 daughters, Christy Hardin of FL, Omeka (Steve) Jackson of Muskegon, Tommie Houston of Muskegon, Torrie Williams of Muskegon, Stephanie Houston of Muskegon; sisters and brothers, Micky Hardin of CA, Jean Prewett of AL, Margaret Hunter of Muskegon, Martha Hardin, Mike Hardin of Ohio and Johnny Hardin on AL; 20 grandchildren; special friends Jan and Janet. Betty was preceded in death by her sister, Laura. Services will be held on Friday, April 18, 2014, 12:00 Noon at Mt. Herman Zion Baptist Church with Pastor Darren Longmire officiating. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.

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