Bettye Lynn Burns Delaney

Bettye Lynn Burns was born to Bill and Nell Burns in Mount Vernon, Texas on June 25th, 1949, and grew up in true East Texas fashion as the 4th of 5 children. She loved to tell the story about how she came into this world halfway through the year 1949; exactly 6 months before Christmas or 6 months after Christmas depending on your perspective, in the tiny house on Miller Street, where their neighbor, Dr. Flemming delivered her.  She’d laugh about being weighed on her daddy’s fish scales on the family’s kitchen table. Bettye loved to tell stories about her childhood working and playing on the family farm. She was a spirited girl who fiercely loved her daddy and admired her momma’s strong character and how it held the family together.

Bettye worked hard in high school achieving good grades and had many fond memories of the friendships from her years in choir, band and future homemakers of America.  Her strong work ethic landed her with her first paying job at the local Mt. Vernon Jersey Queen, a popular hangout for the local youth.  About this time, her sister Bobbi Nell and brother-in-law Rex introduced the young Bettye to a handsome air force man named Paul Marshall Graves, Sr. They dated and fell in love and were married at a young age. Bettye traveled with Paul to several different AirForce bases across the country including Michigan, South Carolina and settling in Biloxi, Mississippi just long enough to have their first and only child Paul Marhsall Graves, Jr. The couple then moved to Omaha, Nebraska where Bettye flourished in motherhood. She gave Marshall all her love and attention, even volunteering as a den mother for his cub scout troop. She was a dedicated mother and that bond was something that they never outgrew.

Bettye was a driven woman, so driven in fact, that she joined the Air Force herself. This was during a time in which women had to work twice as hard to be recognized in her field and she readily rose to that challenge. She and Marshall moved out to a lakeside cabin and made mountains of memories growing up together on that frozen Nebraska lake. She would fondly recount her struggles during that time when she would bake her own bread and make homemade peanut butter to feed her and Marshall. But these weren’t sad times.  To hear her tell of this time, one had the idea that she would not trade that time of her life for anything. It made her tough and gave her strength to handle adversity that most people don’t experience. 

Bettye was an exceptionally attentive mother, always devoted to her son even as she pursued a demanding military career. Her commitment to both her family and her service was unwavering; she continually balanced her responsibilities at home with those required by her profession. Through hard work and determination, Bettye advanced to the esteemed rank of Chief Master Sergeant, a testament to her leadership and dedication.

Her military career was marked by a strong desire for travel and adventure, which led to assignments across the globe. Bettye was stationed in Europe for a time, she also completed a medevac tour of duty in Costa Rica and Saudi Arabia, further demonstrating her expertise and adaptability. Bettye's service during Desert Storm highlighted her courage and skill, and each assignment fed her passion for seeing the world while contributing to her talents wherever she was needed. Bettye was an adventurous soul who genuinely wanted to help people.  She continued to serve in the reserves until the mid-90’s when she retired ’as an E-9, the highest enlisted rank.  After her military service, Bettye did her undergraduate studies at LSUS earning her Real Estate License and her Brokers License. She managed commercial property and leased shopping centers in Shreveport and Bossier City.  It was during this time that Bettye found the love of her life and soulmate Dan Delaney.  The two married at Crystal Beach, Texas in August of 2000. The next 26 years were spent traveling to Cabo San Lucas, and to Crystal Beach and even sneaking in a dream family vacation to Hawaii and Disney a time or two. These trips were shared with her loving husband Dan, her son Marshall and his wife Karen, and William and Sarah, her beloved grandchildren.

Bettye loved her family. She respected her parents and held her siblings close, She was proud of her brother Dickie’s military service in the Marines during Vietnam.  She even selflessly took care of her baby brother Tim when he needed her the most. She and her sister Billie loved to travel and eat at fine restaurants.  It was kind of a game to see who could out order the other one.  She laughingly accepted defeat one time when after a huge meal at Willie G’s in Galveston Billie ordered a couple of lobsters to take home for later.  This traveling trio, Dan, Bettye and Bille also enjoying Deep-sea fishing together in the Gulf of America and the Pacific.  Those sisters were a competitive pair, seeing who caught the biggest fish and who could tell the biggest fish story. It was always a close match.

Bettye also cherished the time she spent with her son and his family in South Dakota. Many autumns were filled with joy as she watched her grandchildren grow up, taking great delight in seeing them participate in the activities they loved. These visits brought her immense happiness and allowed her to share in the milestones and everyday moments of her grandchildren’s lives, creating treasured memories.  She loved spending time with them and doting on them, giving them whatever their hearts desired. She proudly helped put Will and Sarah through college and helped them with the purchase of their first cars. She was happiest when her family was happy and well taken care of, and she accomplished these goals with fierce love, determination and hard work.

Bettye was a remarkable artist who has created several beautiful paintings.  She also enjoyed gardening and always had the most exquisite azaleas and roses in her neighborhood. 

Her love of her own family blossomed into a love of genealogy and a desire to preserve the past.  This hobby quickly turned into her final and favorite career, joining her sister Billie and her nephews Tres and Richard and his wife Ginny in the Oil and Gas Industry.  Her role as a landman involved extensive travel throughout the South, where she spent countless hours in old courthouse record rooms meticulously tracing the ownership of mineral rights for various parcels of land. This career was the perfect blend of her greatest interests: travel and genealogy.

Bettye Burns-Delaney had a passion for life. She loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her husband, child, grandchildren and her precious nieces and nephews and their families.   She was known for her generosity and the way she always made her family feel special. She never left Shreveport without bringing along a “come to visit gift”.   Her thoughtfulness was legendary—on one memorable occasion, she arrived in Mount Vernon with two sacks of crawfish in the trunk of her blue Mustang convertible. These gestures of affection were just one of the many ways Bettye showed her love and created lasting memories for her family.

 She will be sorely missed by those who loved her best. She leaves a hole in our hearts, but we rest easy knowing her suffering is over, and she is now with our Lord and Savior. Bettye Lynn Burns-Delaney peacefully left this world surrounded by her loving family on January 21st, 2026.

Bettye is preceded in death by her parents Bill and Nell Burns; her sisters Bobbie Nell Mathews and Billie Ruth Burns Hamrick and her brothers Richard Malcolm (Dickie) Burns and James Timothy Burns. She is survived by her husband Daniel Fielding Delaney, her son Marshall and his wife Karen Graves, grandchildren William and Sarah Graves and many nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters in law, treasured cousins, and friends and favorite canine nephew, Trump.

We will celebrate her life on Friday January 30th at Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home with a visitation at 1:00 pm and the service at 2:00 pm with a graveside service to follow

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Franklin County Genealogical Society in Bettye Burns Delaney’s honor.

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