Jerry Logan Betsill

Marietta Monitor

July 26, 2002, page 4

Submitted by: Martha N. Reddout Courtesy of Ray and Mrs. E. Weathers

A Celebration of the life of Jerry Logan Betsill, 44, of Fort Worth, Texas, was held at 10 a.m., Monday, July 22, in the Unity Church of Fort Worth.

Mr. Betsill died Saturday, July 13, 2002, in a plane crash along with his beloved daughter, Emma Betsill, his niece, Meredith Fenimore of Dallas, and his cousin, Steve Betsill of Maui, Hawaii, while vacationing in Hawaii.

Mr. Betsill, a partner in the law firm of Broude Smith and Jennings PC, is described by all who knew him as a wise, kind, accepting and generous man of great integrity and humor -- a fine attorney, a loving and devoted husband, and the best father any child could have.

The youngest of five children, Mr. Betsill was a long-term resident of Fort Worth. He began his life-long relationship with his wife, Laura Hilgart, in 1978 while in college at the University of Texas in Austin, where he obtained a bachelor of art degree in English.

In the mid-1980's, Mr. Betsill was one of the founding partners of Abbey Road Clean-Aire, an air-duct cleaning business with nationwide franchises. During this period, he began serving as a volunteer mediator, which sparked his passion to become an attorney.

He graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1996 and returned to Fort Worth to practice law.

Mr. Betsill was active in the Unity Church of Fort Worth where he helped establish a youth Sherpa group and was a committed member of the choir. He was on the board of Thistle Hill House and Tarrant Awareness Project.

Although he excelled at many things, the job he loved most, and was best at, was that of being a father. Emma and Sam were certain in their knowledge that they were loved by the best father in the world.

Mr. Betsill's presence will no longer light up every room he enters, those that knew him will continue to carry the brilliance of his spirit in their hearts.

Survivors include his wife, Laura Hilgart; five-year-old son, Sam Betsill; parents, Billy Joe and Ruth Betsill of Fort Worth; sisters and brothers-in-law, Gwenna and Don Brush of Dallas, and Brenda and Ruben Longoria of Arlington, Texas; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Joe and Cindy Betsill of Watauga, Texas, and Leland and Linda Betsill of Bedford, Texas; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who loved him dearly, and will miss him deeply.

Services were under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home of Fort Worth.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jerry and Emma Betsill Memorial Fund, in care of Bruode Smith & Jennings PC, 309 West 7th Street, Suite 1100, Fort Worth, TX 76102.