Betty Hazlewood Swearengin , passed from this earth into the arms of God, on February 18th, 2018. She was born in Bishop on December 17, 1930.... From stories passed on, her life in Bishop and Driscoll was exciting and fun.
Our dad owned the barber shop and was the town constable and our mother was very involved in social activities and included Betty in all of the little garden parties, and showers, and luncheons and often had her perform little poem readings and pass out gifts. Betty was dressed in everything from Little Bo Peep to a witch... She was a little star, very early on. Reading from Daddy was a must and she became an avid reader for the rest of her life.
When she was 13, the family moved to Corpus Christi and Betty found herself at a new school.  She fit right in and found  many new friends, some of whom she kept for life.

By the time Betty finished high school, she had not only excelled academically, and earned the Who's Who in English award, but, was  head cheerleader and  the honor of Football Queen had been bestowed on her.  Heads turned a bit when they heard she was captain of the volley ball team, since she was barely 5' tall, but, they quickly knew why when they saw her play.  She could JUMP!.  Betty was tiny, but, she cast a large shadow.

She was the oldest child of Melvia Lindsey Hazlewood and Norman Hazlewood, both now deceased, who made sure she was raised a true Southern young lady. She always remained so and attempted to pass these traits to her younger sister... some took, others,,,,well……!
Betty, a single mother lived in Corpus Christi most of her life and raised three successful, loving sons. Every mother would envy the bond that she has kept with them, even after death.
Ronald Gene Swearengin, AMHS, USN Ret.,her oldest son, passed away suddenly in 2004 while on a trip to Virginia and she never really recovered from the loss.
Her surviving sons, Jeffrey Allen Swearengin is a 40 year employee at Valero and Joel Barry Swearengin is a long time employee in the quality control division at Grande Communications.
She was blessed with two beautiful Daughters-in law, DeeLeta Moore Swearengin married to Joel and Joyce Jimison Swearengin, married to Jeff.
Betty is survived by a sister Linda and twin brothers , Joe and Tom.
Linda is a fine art photographer and is involved with several galleries in the area.
Joe, retired from CCAD where he was an Tool Designer Engineer.
Tom, residing in Wichita, Kansas is employed by RCH Enterprises as a trader.
Her sisters- in-laws , Ann Crunk Hazlewood married to Tom and Erin Heitzman Hazlewood married to Joe, have been both good friends to her and a blessing to the entire family for close to fifty years .
She had one brother-in-law, Kenneth ( Tip) Tipton, now deceased since 2008, who loved her like a sister and insisted she travel on her vacations with us.
There were had some grand trips, and we still talk about them. Tip and Betty were great friends from the time they met.
She will be missed by her only granddaughter, Kayla and three grandsons, Josh, Jordan and Jeffrey. Betty loved and was very proud of her three nephews and two nieces along with five grand-nieces and nephews and love was returned by all of them with the knowledge of how privileged they were to be her family. Visits and phone calls kept her in touch in later years.
Betty's life was always about security, love, and education. With this mind, she not only raised her own boys, and looked after our parents, who lived next door, but, opened her doors to her son's friends, Allen Smith, Jim Johnson and Mark Smith.
Betty was all about security, family and education and for whatever reason she saw, she offered these young boys a place to feel safe and loved.
Allen passed away within the last year and she missed him every day.
He came by to see her often, have a cup of coffee and sit in the swing to visit on what he called'' the coolest back porch in the city.''
Betty retired after more than 35 years from CCAD. Her career was as a computer librarian.
She also worked for a short time as a manager in the parts division.
Our family and everyone who ever knew her will miss her always. She made a great impression on everyone she met.
Betty, at her request, was cremated and the plans are to place some of her ashes in the Gulf of Mexico with her son Ronnie's ashes and place the rest at Duncan Cemetery.

Please join us on Friday, February 23 at 1pm at Guardian Funeral Home for a Memorial Service.