Betty Ann Bough

Surrounded by family, our songbird, Betty Ann Elliott Bough, 90, met her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 26, 2024. Born at home in Nacogdoches, Texas, on November 24, 1933, Betty was welcomed into this world by her grandmother Lucy Fambro McKnight and parents Gertrude McKnight Elliott and Chester Hoyt Elliott. Betty grew up in East Texas and Northern Louisiana where music was her constant companion influenced by her mother who learned music from her own mother. During World War II, a young and talented Betty would often sing to the wounded troops to bring comfort in the hospitals.

Betty graduated early from Homer High School in Homer, Louisiana, at the age of 16. She was awarded a music scholarship to Louisiana Tech University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While there, she played the oboe as well as the saxophone in the Louisiana Tech Marching Band. Betty was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and was proud to be a third-generation woman with a music related college degree; and modeled her passion for music to her children and grandchildren.

Following graduation, Betty moved to Longview, Texas, where she began her career as an elementary music teacher which she continued until retirement. During summers, she attended the University of Texas at Austin where she completed graduate coursework in Music Therapy. It was in Longview where she met her future husband of nearly 68 years, Jim Bough, on a blind date. The introverted Jim, a college student at LeTourneau University, and the performer Betty Ann were a match, and following Jim’s graduation, they were married June 8, 1957, in Homer, Louisiana. They moved to Houston, Texas, where Jim pursued a career in Lithography.

Betty commuted to Pasadena to continue her teaching career as an elementary school music teacher. Two years later, Betty and Jim welcomed their first child, Linda Ann, and Betty took a reprieve from her career to become a full-time mother and homemaker. In 1964, with two young daughters in tow, Jim and Betty moved from the inner city to the suburbs of the Memorial Area. Once the girls were older, Betty began teaching music to preschoolers at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church’s School for Little People. Betty wrote the curriculum and helped begin the entire program. Her second daughter, Gloria Ellen, was a member of the first class. After her youngest child, Jim E., was in elementary school, Betty returned to work in Spring Branch ISD to again teach music at the elementary level.

Betty and Jim discovered Coldspring, Texas in 1967, when they bought property in Lakeview Estates as one of the founding members of the new community before Lake Livingston was completed. They built a lake cabin in 1970, which immediately became a gathering place for weekends, holidays and vacations creating cherished family Lake Time Memories while creating new friendships within the community. Betty and Jim became members of Coldspring Methodist Church where Betty was active in the choir for 50 plus years. Betty and Jim participated in mission work including trips to Africa and Louisiana.

Although Betty received joy from her family and instilled a love of music in children, her greatest passion was singing. As an accomplished first soprano, Betty always made time in her busy life to sing. She was never without a church choir membership and often made guest appearances at other local churches for special performances, such as Handel’s Messiah. She was a member of the Houston Symphony Chorale for 30 plus years as well as a member of Houston’s Masterworks Chorus, a.k.a. Houston Oratorio Society, for 40 plus years.  She was an officer and performing member of Houston’s Tuesday Musical Club for many decades.

In addition to music and family, Betty was passionate about her own lineage. She was a proud member of Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of The Republic of Texas. In her spare time, she would always lend a helping hand to any community or church group needing volunteers.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents and her infant brother, Carl Hoyt Elliott. Her remaining family is as follows: husband James Edward Bough, daughter Linda Ann Bough White, granddaughters Malinda (Joseph) Ennis with great-granddaughters: Avery, Emily, and Olivia; Lauren (Matthew) Powell with great-grandchildren: Éolyn and Aldaron, daughter Gloria Ellen Bough Hogue (Cody), grandchildren Alexandra Dumas and Joseph Dumas, and son James Elliott Bough (Sheri), grandchildren triplets: Macey, Mallory, and Mathias.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a charitable donation to:  Houston Masterworks Chorus https://houstonmasterworks.org/, Houston Tuesday Musical Club https://www.houstontuesdaymusicalclub.org/, or any school/community music department program.

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

Psalms 89:1