Betty Hysaw

Precious Memories

Betty Lou Hysaw

As beautiful as a rose to see, was her life she lived so gracefully.  She made things precious by her touch; her selfless love lives on in each of us.  The petals of her life fell one by one; each a gift of her heart till there were none.  Yet her radiance blooms once again in fields of glory with no end.

Betty Lou Hysaw, was born September 19, 1938, in Waco, Texas to Ollie and Earnestine Nichols.  She was the fifth child of ten.  She was raised surrounded by her brothers, Samuel, Ollie Jr. (“Boy”), Reginald (“Sunny”), and Marvin, and her sisters, Imogene, Ida Faye, Ruth, Edna (“Shug”), Marion (“Sista”).  She was the first to graduate high school in her family, where she received her diploma from Manual High School.

In 1955, at the age of 16 years old, she moved the Denver, Colorado with her first born son, Howard Ray Nichols and sister, Imogene.  In 1958, she met the love of her life Charles Douglas Hysaw and they were later married on February 6, 1960, in Denver, Colorado.  To this union Craig, Kenneth, and Charles Jr. were born.

Betty enjoyed cooking. As a young girl, she would cook breakfast every morning for her father.  She is known for her infamous corn bread, red beans, cream potatoes, and corn bread dressing. While living in Denver, Betty enjoyed spending time with her sister, Imogene and close friends at the Regular Fellows social club events. She loved spending time with family, attending family reunions, gatherings.

Betty accepted Christ at an early age. She was a member of Willhite AME in Waco. Betty stayed in the word of God, her favorite scripture was Psalms 91.  While living in Denver, she attended Union Baptist church, where she sang in the choir. She later joined Greater Union Baptist Church.

As a teenager she worked with her niece Lola, cleaning houses. Betty, then worked for Newsteaders in customer service. Betty retired from Rose Medical Center after 16 years where she was an OR instrument tech.

She had a classy taste in fashion and could keep up with fashion trends. She enjoyed shopping at the way.  Some would describe her as a “Diva”.

Although a woman of few words, when her kids would get out of line, she did not hesitate to tell her kids that she would “make your hips smell like chili gravy.” Betty was a strong woman, and often full of wonder, to her kids surprise, she could even play basketball. She will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known this kind and wonderful lady. To know Betty was to love Betty

.She is preceded in death by her parents, Ollie and Earnestine Nichols; Husband, Charles Hysaw Sr.; son, Craig Hysaw; brothers, Samuel, Ollie Jr. (‘Boy”), Reginald (“Sonny”), and sisters, Imogene, Ida Faye, and Ruth.

Betty Lou Hysaw departed from this live to embrace the Lord on August 22, 2022, in Denver, Colorado.  Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss include 3 sons, Howard (Diane) Nichols, Denise, Kenneth (Laticia Johnson) Hysaw, Charles (Sheila Kelly) Hysaw Jr.; sisters Edna (Leon) Farmer, Marion (Lee) Ervin, brother Marvin (Beverly) Nichols; grandchildren, Patrick, Craig Jr, Cory, Kandace, Syreeta, Briauna, Monique; great grand-children, Ray, DarShan, DeJanae, Craig III, Zayiah, Cason, Carter, and Legacy;  great great grand-children, Markell, Ma’Kyia, and Mariah; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.