Betty Jean Peden

Betty Jean Peden (89) of Smithville, Texas went to be with her Lord and her family members on April 9, 2024. Betty was born in Smithville to Woodrow and Christine "Gussie" Simpson on January 20, 1935. She had a younger sister, JoLynn, that married Bobby McDuff, both of which preceded her in death.
 
Betty attended all grades of school in Smithville and was very active in sports and served as a cheerleader in High School for the Smithville Tigers. For many years, she also organized the annual class reunion. She loved the Texas Longhorns and the Dallas Cowboys.
 
After graduation, she moved to Houston, Texas, to work for Southwestern Bell where she was introduced to her first husband, Lawrence F. Champagne "Larry" by her Aunt Lillian. Betty had three children with her first husband: Lawrence F. Champagne II (68), Bryan J. Champagne (66), and Tina M. Champagne (58). All three are still living as well as Larry's wife, Glenda and Bryan's wife, Julie. She is also survived by four Grandchildren - Carmen, Allison, Cody and Caden Champagne.
 
In 1980 she married a second time to Jerry Peden of Fort Worth, Texas. They built a home near Lake Whitney where they enjoyed fishing, dove hunting and playing cards. When Jerry's health began to decline in 1998, he suggested that they move to Smithville to be close to her family. They built a house where they lived and were close enough to care for Betty's Mother until she passed in 2002. Betty was widowed in 2006 and she continued to live in their house in Smithville until 2023 at which time she was moved to a memory care facility.