Betty June Taliaferro

Betty June Taliaferro passed away on March 4, 2026, at the age of 94. Born on February 6, 1932, in Houston, Texas, at Jefferson Davis Hospital to Bessie and Arthur Cook, Betty lived her entire life in the city she proudly called home. She grew up alongside her four siblings, Arthur, Imogene, Clifford, and William.

After leaving Cy-Fair High School, Betty began working at a young age, first as an elevator operator and later at General Electric. She then became a waitress at the Triangle Café, where she met the owner’s son, Otto Charles Taliaferro. They fell in love and married in 1951, building a life together in Houston and raising their two daughters, Jane and Joan. After the café closed in 1969, Betty worked as a receptionist at several beauty salons, forming many lasting friendships with coworkers and clients. When her granddaughter Tracie was born, Betty took her in and raised her as her own. Her final job was in customer service at Schepps Dairy, where she remained until the birth of her great-granddaughter Ashlyn, after which she retired.

Betty stepped in once more to help raise the next generation when her great-grandchildren, Ashlyn and Justin, were born. She faithfully drove them to and from school each day and cared for them until they reached high school, providing steady love and support while their parents worked. In her later years, she was lovingly cared for by her daughters, Jane and Joan, and devoted caregivers Theresa, Belinda, Cathy, and Tammy. The family holds special gratitude for Tammy, who gave countless hours of compassionate care, often on her own time. Betty cherished her deeply.

She enjoyed playing dominoes and canasta with her mother-in-law and neighbors, and she was known for usually winning at gin rummy against her great-grandson Justin and youngest daughter Joan. A devoted fan of classic westerns such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman, and The Virginian, her favorite actor was John Wayne. She was a longtime member of Jersey Village Baptist Church. Above all, Betty loved her family deeply and warmly welcomed those who married into it, including her granddaughter Tracie’s husband, James Cox, and her daughter Joan’s wife, Robin Palmer.

She is survived by her daughters, Jane and Joan, her granddaughter Tracie, her great-grandchildren Ashlyn and Justin, and her dog Benji. Betty will be remembered for the full life she built, the many roles she embraced, and the devoted care she gave to those she loved. Her family, especially those who were fortunate enough to call her “Nanny,” will carry her memory with them always.