Betty Murray Ewing

Betty Murray Ewing, a beacon of love and adventure, peacefully entered into eternal rest on November 3, 2025 in Conroe, Texas. Born on May 13, 1926, in Midwest, WO. Betty’s life was a tapestry of rich experiences and unwavering faith. She was the cherished daughter and only child of Edward Surrell “Ed” Murray and Elizabeth Gage Murray. Her vibrant spirit and zest for life touched the lives of everyone she met, leaving a legacy of love and resilience.

Betty’s childhood was a remarkable adventure. She grew up amidst the lush jungles of Negritos, Peru then to El Centro, Columbia, South America (until the age of 11) due to her father’s employment with Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. Her cherished childhood pet was her spider monkey. She and her family crossed the Panama Canal annually as they journeyed between Columbia and New York to do their annual shopping. This formative period of her life instilled in her a love for travel, exploration, and nature.

Her education was as diverse as her upbringing. She received her undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she majored in Home Economics. Betty later achieved her Master’s degree +30 in Education at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, further demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning.

Betty married Cecil Gounah Ewing in Dallas, TX and together they embarked on a life filled with love and hard work, purchasing a 224 acre ranch in Campti, LA. For 43 years, Betty dedicated herself to early childhood education, shaping countless young minds with patience, compassion and joy. Twenty-nine of these years were spent enriching the lives of her third-grade students at Weaver Elementary School in Natchitoches, LA. Her classroom was a place of encouragement and discovery, and her influence continues to live on in the many students whose lives she touched.

Upon retirement, Betty embraced her role as the matriarch of “Rose Ridge Ranch,” caring for her aging parents. She managed the family’s 550 acre cattle ranch continuing the pioneering work of her father, who introduced Charolais Cattle to Louisiana over 70 years ago. Betty found great joy in tending the gardens around her beautiful ranch, where she spent countless peaceful hours nurturing the flowers and plants

Betty was a member of First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches. Her Christian faith was the cornerstone of her life, guiding her through many roles as a mother, educator, rancher, and matriarch. Betty loved traveling abroad with many of her P.E.O. sisters, even riding the famed Orient Express during a visit to London. She cherished journaling and writing stories about her adventures, capturing each journey in her own words. Betty also enjoyed traveling with her family and friends on countless cruises and took great interest in cheering on her grandsons in all their sporting adventures. Known for her exuberant parties, she could entertain over a hundred guests with ease and grace. Her daily ritual of baking three cakes to deliver to friends spoke volumes of her generosity and care for others.

She was a dedicated “Golden Girl” member of P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter I for over 70 years. She was also alumnae of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority - SMU.

She is preceded in death by her parents. Ed and Elizabeth Murray and Ex-husband Cecil Ewing. Betty’s legacy lives on through her family, who meant the world to her. She is survived by her only son, Cecil Surrell “Surrey” Ewing, and his wife, Susan Elizabeth Maggio Ewing of Montgomery, Texas; her two grandsons, Landon Surrell Ewing and Lance Alexander Ewing, and his wife, Stephanie Cain Ewing; and one cherished great-granddaughter, Kylie Elizabeth Ewing all of Montgomery, Texas. Kylie will grow up hearing tales of her remarkable great-grandmother.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff at Worthington Manor and the Devotion Hospice Care Team for their exceptional care and compassion. A special appreciation to all Betty’s friends for their love and kindness, and sincere heartfelt acknowledgment to our dear friend, Lynda DeLoach, for her steadfast weekly visits to see Betty and share their favorite cappuccino.

A celebration of Betty’s remarkable life will be held in the spring of 2026 when she will be laid to rest with eternal peace at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. Her spirit, forever adventurous and kind, will continue to inspire and guide us through the memories she leaves behind.