Betty Jane Touchberry

RALEIGH - Betty Jane Calvez Touchberry, of Raleigh N.C., passed away Friday, December 20, 2024, peacefully at Hillcrest nursing home in Raleigh. She was not alone - as God was by her side. Betty was predeceased in death by her husband of 57 years, William H. "Bill" Touchberry.

Betty is survived by her children: son, Scott Touchberry and wife Jill, Dwight Touchberry and wife Laurie, and daughter Fran Touchberry Marsh and husband John Marsh.

Grandchildren, Nathaniel and Christopher Touchberry (Scott), great grandson Thomas Touchberry, Garren and Shawn Touchberry (Dwight) and Ethan and Cara Marsh(Fran).

Betty was born December 14, 1936, in Robstown, Texas to Emil and Annie Thiede Calvez. Her childhood was spent in southeast Texas where she and her family worked on various farms and ranches. Betty was the middle daughter of a large family that included five brothers and five sisters. Surviving members of her family include Donnie Calvez, Larry Calvez, Tommy Calvez, and sisters Gladys Schroedter and Carolyn Coffman, and many Calvez and Touchberry nieces and nephews. Betty is also predeceased by her parents Emil and Annie Thiede Calvez, brothers: Alton Calvez and Louis Calvez, and sisters: Margie Stanford, Novileen Coffman and Christine Calvez.

Betty graduated from Banquete High School, applied to and was accepted to nursing school, but chose a different path by working with Texas Bell as an operator then as a supervisor. While in Texas, she met William H. "Bill" Touchberry, a photographer's mate stationed in Kingston Naval Air Station. They met at a VFW dance in Alice, Tx. Later, they married in San Diego, California on October 30, 1959.

Betty helped Bill to make homes, build their marriage and created a family in many places in the United States. Scott was born in San Diego, Dwight in Salinas, Kansas, and Fran was born in Burlington, NC. Betty was a devoted wife, caring mother and kind neighbor with friends at church, Boy and Girl Scouting. Betty helped Bill run their photography business for 27 years. Later, Betty worked with Hallmark as one of their most remembered associates. Betty was endued with kindness, grace, patience and was dedicated in her faith and belief in Jesus Christ.

The family will receive friends on Friday January 10, 2025, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Rd., Raleigh NC 27604. A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, 4815 Six Forks Rd., Raleigh NC 27609 on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 11:00am. Interment will follow at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27615. In addition to flowers, please consider a donation to the Girl Scouts of America, or Trinity Baptist Church, Lamplighters Class. Betty was the card writer for many years for her Sunday School Class and all of us who were recipients of her cards and letters.