Betty Joyce Hollister McDuff

Mrs. Betty McDuff, of Montgomery, Texas passed away Thursday, November 3, 2016. She was born on August 4, 1929 in Saratoga, Texas to Elsie Walston and Burt W. Hollister.

Betty was a graduate of Saratoga School. As a straight ‘A’ student she graduated at the age of 17 and went to work for the Hardin County Courthouse as a Deputy Clerk, handling deeds, certificates and official documents.

Competent and musical at a young age she played the accordion for her church, First Assembly of God in Saratoga and began teaching Sunday School at 16. At the age of 27 she met and married Reverend Colman McDuff. As the story goes, a friend made her attend a church service at Little Rock Assembly of God in Kountze, TX, where he was a visiting evangelist … and the rest is history.

Betty and Colman married in June of 1957 at First Assembly of God in Saratoga, where their two daughters were baptized. Evangelizing the world together, Betty and Colman came to pastor at Bell Gardens Assembly of God Church in Bell Gardens, California for 35 years.

Betty is survived by her two daughters Tammye McDuff Kline and her husband Scott Kline of Los Angeles, California and Melinda McDuff Young and her husband Brent Young of Montgomery, Texas; by grandchildren, Jennifer Henry and Jeffrey Porter of Lakewood, California; Amber Bair and Major Andy Bair of Augusta, Georgia; Michael Dunn and Vanessa De Santiago and family of Miami Florida; Brytie Young and Cole Young of Montgomery, Texas.

She is also survived by her older brothers’ family Sabra Hulsey Hollister [her best friend for 71 years]; nieces Debbie Hollister and husband Alf H. Flowers; Donna Hollister Cazares and husband Daniel J. Cazares. She leaves behind her younger brothers family Ann Drake Hollister; nieces Lori Hollister Smith and husband Brian Smith and family; Janie Hollister Lewis and husband Don Lewis and family; LeAnn Bayless Norman and family; and nephew Mike Bayless and family.

Betty is preceded in death by her two brothers; Tillman L. Hollister and Lynn E. Hollister. Betty will join her husband of 59 years Reverend Colman McDuff at Guedry Cemetery in Batson, Texas.

A gathering of Betty’s family and friends will be Wednesday, November 9th at 10:00 am until service time at 11:00 am at the First Assembly of God Church in Saratoga, TX. The address is 6389 1st Street Saratoga, TX 77585. Flowers can be sent to 6389 1st Street, Saratoga, TX 77585.

In lieu of flowers friends and family may contribute to the building fund of the church she loved and grew up in First Assembly of God Church, Saratoga, Texas.