Bette Sue Moncrief

Bette Sue Moncrief was born September 23, 1926 in Dallas, Texas to Lillie Mae and D.L. Irwin. She was the youngest of six children. She started attending Cliff Temple Baptist, the church her grandfather help found, at the age of 2 weeks old. At 3 years old, her father deserted her family during the height of the Great Depression. Bette went from living in a two story house with a car, to her mother standing in food lines and living in a house with no indoor plumbing. She felt this adversity led her to be a stronger, more determined person. Throughout her childhood, Bette always felt encouraged and loved by her mother, who each day as she left for school, would give her a kiss and say “be first”. Bette was involved in many church and school activities and had a large circle of friends. She became a mother of 3 daughters, Judy, Marilyn and Margaret, and insisted on being called a homemaker instead of a housewife. She was an excellent seamstress and made all of her and her daughters’ clothes—priding herself on copying the latest fashions. She also had fun as a freelance fashion commentator and book reviewer. Not only a wonderful mother, Bette served her community and her church as a volunteer and leader. At church, she was a Sunday school teacher for decades. She also gave her efforts to many organizations including Cancer Fund, Meals on Wheels and AIDS. Bette was a member and president of several women’s clubs that provided services to benefit the community. She also served on boards with the Dallas City Council and Dallas Arts Museum. Her involvement in community related organizations was limitless. She was “networking” before Webster’s dictionary had introduced the word. When her volunteer days were over, it was a natural transition for her to begin a successful career as a real estate broker—which she did until she retired. Bette was married to J.B. “Monk” Moncrief for 61 years. They shared the love of golf and travelled throughout the United States—preferably with the destination of a great golf course, although a mediocre one was okay! Bette loved life and through her words of encouragement and her role-modeling, she taught many others how to do the same. Her smile alone was like a beacon of light. Bette passed from this life peacefully on May 1, 2021 and was preceded in death by her husband Monk, her parents, her 3 brothers—Jess, Bill and “Joe Bailey” Irwin, 2 sisters—Virginia Goodrich and Lillie Taylor, and grandson David Gibbs. Bette is survived by her three daughters-- Judy Gibbs and husband Ron of Walla Walla, Washington; Marilyn Berry and her husband Pat of Austin, Texas; and Margaret Taylor and husband Hubert of Oak Point, Tx. She is also survived by six grandchildren --Virginia Gibbs Oguri, Andrew Gibbs, Carly Berry Gonzalez, Casi Berry, Natalie Taylor Goble, and Lana Berry; nine great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews that cherished her and considered her the matriarch of the family. And she had many that called her a friend. Bette is now reunited with so many loved ones and is in heaven dancing joyfully! The Memorial Service will be held at Cliff Temple Baptist Church, 125 Sunset Ave., Dallas, TX 75208 at 11:00am on Friday, May 14, 2021. For those who are unable to attend, the service will be live streamed at the same time from https://www.facebook.com/clifftemplebaptistchurch The family requests memorials or donations be made in Bette's name to the North Texas Food Bank.