Betty Jo Hudson

Betty Jo Tidwell was born in Coalgate on July 11, 1935. She was reared by Charles Clifford and Grace Lee Tidwell in a house in the woods off Highway 3 with her brother Howard and sister, Margaret. Betty was a protective big sister who could cook a full meal by age 9. She was also an avid reader, a child of nature, and a creative soul. She attended Coalgate High School as a star student and worked at Hudson’s Big Country Store after school as a secretary. She caught the eye of Billy Castle Hudson, a Marine home convalescing after being wounded in Korea, when she was a student in Ruth Hudson’s English class and Billy Castle stopped by with his soldier uniform to be used as a prop in the senior play. They dated for 2 years while Betty attended Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University), where she was handpicked by Dean Patchett, the Dean of women, to work as her personal assistant. She also pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma, majored in Home Economics with a French minor, and was chosen as Air Force Cadet Sweetheart. Billy Castle and Betty married in December 1955. They spent the next decade focused on Castle’s career with Phillip’s petroleum, in Tulsa then Woodward then Tulsa then Columbus, OH. They were active in the United Methodist Church in every city, leading youth groups, teaching Sunday school, and serving in almost every office. They had Beth in 1957 and Sydney in 1959. But the family business called Castle home, so in 1961 they came back to Coalgate, with Amy arriving soon after and 3 years later, Kyle. They continued their devotion to the Methodist Church lay witness mission work, youth group and Sunday school. Betty started a supper Bridge Club that peaked at 4 tables and inspired other clubs that still meet. Betty went back to work in Hudson’s office, started a catering business on the side, and she and Castle contracted to provide meals at the Senior Citizen’s Center. She had a corner of Hudson’s that she turned into a little bookstore and led two study trips to Europe. When Hudson’s closed after 91 years and Betty and Castle moved to Oklahoma City to be nearer the grown kids, Betty went to work as an office assistant at the St. Anthony Hospital Spine Center, and she worked for St. Anthony for 5 years. Betty and Castle joined Church of the Servant and loved their years in Oklahoma City following their son-in-law’s basketball teams, entertaining their growing brood of grandchildren, and fellowshipping their beloved extended Hudson family and their many lifelong friends. And then in 2004 they moved to Durant, again near their daughters and grandchildren, where they attended the United Methodist Church and Betty joined PEO, played bridge, and worked actively for the Bryan County Election Board. After Castle’s death in 2009, Betty remained a vibrant, vital presence in all her activities, including hosting family dinner every Sunday. Betty passed away suddenly on the morning of September 5, 2016. She is deeply, deeply missed. She is survived by her daughters, Beth Robinson and husband, Tony, Sydney Long and husband, Rick, and Amy Hudson, all of Durant; grandchildren, Taylor Robinson, Will Robinson and wife Kristen, Mark Long and Hudson Long; great grandchildren, Carson Robinson, and Claire Jeanette Robinson, to be born in December; and numerous beloved extended family. A celebration of Betty’s life will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church in Durant. The family suggests donations to be made to The First United Methodist Church in Durant or Coalgate.

Betty Jo Hudson

July 11, 1935 - September 5, 2016