Remembering Betty Dunn

[ Jan 26, 1930 - Sept 4, 2025 ]

One morning I was eating breakfast at Cowtalk, my favorite diner on the outskirts of Navasota. Two ladies across the room were smiling and pointing, and soon they came and asked if they could sit down and visit. Soon I was being questioned about the status of the town’s historic treasures, the possibility of starting another history preservation organization, and my interest in being in involved. I was burned out on all three of the subjects, and had no interest in tying into any of them again. But little did I know whom I was talking to! That was my introduction to Betty Dunn, one of the most positive and persistent people I have ever known, and a tireless advocate of local history. Determined, she made a couple more attempts, during subsequent Cowtalk conversations, and eventually she got some halfhearted commitments from me. After weeks of discussions, she had recruited Malcomb Greene, who had valuable experience writing non-profit organization applications. She had a half dozen or so people interested in meeting and discussing the prospects. And that, as they say is history.

We called it Two Rivers Heritage Foundation. I tried to stay out of the naming, the logo, the by-laws, etc., mainly because I had just been through all of that with a contentious and recently failed local history organization. I was willing to join others, but I had to see if they drank less and got along better than the last group. Soon I was on the board of the organization and making presentations at the club teas. Betty was the energy, the vision, and the glue that held it together, until the foundation got its legs. Soon Lynn Hildebrandt was hosting and catering our meetings with delicious goodies, which probably guaranteed our survival. We had marvelous speakers and presentations, and we submitted articles to the newspaper. Betty wrote most of them. The City of Navasota sought our help in conserving its historical archives. Betty led the way. Old schools and cemeteries were researched. Betty researched, wrote, and published, and assisted others in discovering and documenting their family histories. Almost everything that got done, knew her as the catalyst.

Betty had a Beefmaster herd out in the south end of the county. She took care of her beloved cows by herself. Sometimes she recruited a ranch hand to help during spring calving and worming and such. She had burros that were like puppies seeking affection when she visited them. She had a wonderful cow dog who loved to ride around in her four-wheeled mule with her to inspect the herd. Incidently, I was told that her faithful dog took sick and died almost exactly the same time as she. She had a gorgeous field of bluebonnets in one pasture where I spent hours, and I painted it a couple of times. I remember thinking, if I owned all of this, I would not be in town messing with local history! After all, she was from NEBRASKA.

Most of us knew that Betty had once been a country reporter, but few knew that she was once a champion golfer! Her family testified at her memorial service that she was an exemplary wife and mother. She made excellence her goal at whatever she did. But Betty Dunn was not only persistent, she was a giver, and a problem solver. And Grimes County, Texas was very fortunate to have attracted her and her family to locate there. Many of Two Rivers's goals went unreached, but those that were had her name all over them. Several of the founders have now passed away, as Navasota enters a new era, and one where history and its preservation will be anachronisms. I felt very fortunate to have worked with Betty Dunn, and am so glad she came to my table that morning at Cowtalk. I’m very proud that she shared her dreams with me. That may be the highest compliment a person can offer. Those dreams may have been a bit lofty, but Betty knew no other path than to aim high. I restored and colorized this old photo of an unknown woman, because it reminded me of her. I think this image captures her spirit.

After all was said and done, we will at least know one important thing, and that is that we did not sit around and complain or shoot things down, but instead we tried. Thanks to Betty's persistence. There were many frustrations, in fact I told her children, that if they ever felt negected, it might have been because she was off helping me, or Two Rivers meet its vision. We both knew that life is about the journey, not so much the destination. And now many of our history lovers have become history themselves. Whatever your history or your journey, may it be blessed with a co-laborer like Betty Dunn.