Betty Jane Hargis

Betty Jane Hargis Obituary prepared by her oldest daughter, Bonnie Choisnard

Last night, our Heavenly Father and His choir of angels gave a Hallelujah welcome to our Mother, Betty Jane Hargis. Here on earth, Becky, Brenda, and I said “goodbye for now” to our very first and forever best friend. We, and all our family, were so blessed beyond any words to share her as “ours.”

Mom was all things wonderful and good – physically beautiful, graceful, caring, supportive, an encourager, gracious, genuine, unique.

Her spoken word was well described in Prov. 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” In our family’s minds, she was the most special of all.

Mom was born in Sciotoville, Ohio, on June 24, 1928. She loved her home state of Ohio and would always refer to it as “beautiful Ohio.”

She played the organ at her Christian church there when, on an autumn night, a preacher from Texarkana, Texas, came to hold a revival. After the service, he walked over to her and asked her to go to dinner with him. They married a few months later on December 21st and moved to Oklahoma – so far away from her Ohio home at 23 years of age.

Betty and Billy Hargis went on to live a big and wonderful adventure and share a ministry that became known worldwide. Dad was always the big charismatic personality, but Mom was his motivator and inspiration. Mom was Dad’s, “Little Darling.” She may have appeared to be quiet and timid, but she was a rock – a strong woman.

Her favorite Bible verse was Phil. 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and she lived that every day. There were many heartaches along the way - She lost her last baby, Bryan, after his birth, her mother died when she was still in her 20s and her father in her early 30s. She stood by our Dad through his struggles and downfalls, cared for him for years through his Alzheimer’s, and, probably the most difficult, was losing her son, Billy, when he was 59 years old. She was standing tall and holding onto her belief that Jesus was her shepherd, comfort, and strength. She was a woman of God, and all who knew her honored her.
Mom was preceded in death by her husband, Billy James Hargis, and sons, Billy James Hargis II and Bryan Joseph Hargis.

She is survived by her daughters, Bonnie Choisnard; Becky Frank and her husband Jack; and Brenda Jo Epperley and her husband Joe; her grandchildren, Marc Choisnard, Annie Ferris and her husband Scott, Mary Olivia MacGowan, Robby James Davis and his wife Megan, Lucy Pollman and her husband Neal, Christopher Davis, Billy James Hargis III, Benjamin Epperley, Bonnie Hayes, and Betty Grace Carney and her husband Daniel; and her great-grandchildren, Caden Choisnard, Bea Ferris, Tyson Pollman, Tanner Pollman, Caroline Davis, Jet Epperley, Maxwell Davis, and Ada Epperley. And her four-legged friend, Frankie.

Our hearts are all broken and, selfishly, don’t know how we will handle this void. She will forever be in our hearts, and love for her will only continue to flourish throughout time.
Betty Jane, Mom, MaMaw, Aunt Betty…we miss you and will join you one day for eternity.

Friends are welcome to say goodbye to Mom on Monday, 1-7 p.m., for viewing at Bixby Funeral Service located at 13307 S. Memorial Drive. The family will hold private memorial and graveside services. They ask that any memorial gifts be made to Emergency Infant Services.
 

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