Obituaries

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Betty, the only child of William Lee and Ruth Crosby Rudd, was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 19, 1932. She spent her childhood and high school years in Burlington, North Carolina. 

In 1950 she celebrated two major events. She graduated high school and she married Benny Gray King, all within a week of each other. Their marriage lasted just two months short of 65 years due to Ben’s death. Their union produced four children: Kathryn, Benjamin, David and Virginia.

Betty moved to Irving, Texas in 1953 with Kathy, her firstborn and was a stay-at-home mom to raise her children while Ben was a pilot for American Airlines and the United States Navy. The family moved to Dallas in 1963.

She was inspired to further her education and graduated from Texas Women’s University in 1974 and earned a Master of Arts in 1976, also at TWU.

Her career was in music and drama. She was a singer and actor on a variety of stages. She appeared in three Oscar winning films in three years: Tender Mercies, Silkwood and Terms of Endearment. She also acted in commercials, industrial films, and community theatre productions.

Betty was a long-time member of the Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church where she served three terms as Deacon and one as an elder. She was in the sanctuary choir and active in prayer and healing ministries.

Betty is survived by three of her children – Kathryn Kremer, Benjamin King and Virginia Tinney, who gave her six grandchildren (Michael Kremer, Stephen Kremer, Karen Kremer, Joanna King, Jennifer King and Michelle Tinney) and seven great grandchildren (Timothy, Elizabeth, Olivia, Audrey, Hadley, Talia and Jackson). Also missing “Granny” are Christopher and Christian Tinney, Dean Tinney’s son and grandson.

The interment was at Restland Memorial Park on Monday, June 24, 2024. The Worship Service in Witness to the Resurrection will be at Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church on Friday, August 30, 2024 at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, the Salvation Army or any charity of your choice.

Betty's memorial page can be found here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/dallas-tx/betty-king-11867552.

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So many words come to mind when thinking about the life of Michael (Mike) Haer, who died suddenly from a heart attack on August 6, in Richardson, TX, at age 71. A lawyer, an FBI special agent, a Chinese linguist, and a foreign service diplomat, he lived a life of public service and adventure. 

Son of Earleen and Darrell Haer, both deceased, Mike was born in Fairfax, Mo., on September 28, 1952, and grew up in Gladstone, Mo. He married his Oak Park High School sweetheart, Debbie, who was the love of his life for 43 years. Mike earned a degree in education from the University of Missouri, Columbia, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He cherished his Phi Delt friendships—tales of ski adventures and Indy 500 trips are just a few of the memories that will live on in his “brothers.”

He received his Juris Doctorate from University of Missouri, Kansas City, and practiced law in Kansas City. His law degree quickly led him to one of his lifelong goals, and in 1982 he became an FBI special agent. Serving in the Kansas City, Houston, and Washington, D.C., offices, he worked in counterintelligence and on undercover assignments. While with the FBI, he attended language school, where he became fluent in Chinese and fell in love with the Monterey Coast.

Although he loved his work at the FBI, he yearned to work overseas—in 1989, he joined the U.S. Agency for International Development as a fraud investigator. His foreign service career took him overseas, and he lived in Singapore (where his twin sons were born), Thailand, and the Philippines. He traveled to nearly 100 countries; it’s no wonder that some characterized Mike’s life as a combination of Indiana Jones and James Bond! It’s doubtful, though, that they would have collected flight sickness bags from every exotic airline like he did.

A devoted brother, husband, and father, he loved his sons “to the moon and back.” After retiring from government service, he joined Texas Instruments in Dallas. It was in Dallas that Mike, an Eagle Scout, guided his sons and other scouts on the trail to Eagle. As adults, the boys continued to love hiking and camping with their dad, where they would often share craft beers and long talks around the campfire.

Mike was the rare person who was universally liked, and he will be sorely missed. He is survived by his loving wife, Debbie; his beloved twin sons, Nicholas and Alex (wife Melissa); and his sister, Dara White. Services will be held at Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church, 3901 North Star Road, Richardson, TX, at 3 pm, Friday, September 13. For those wishing to make a memorial donation, the family suggests the National Park Foundation the Boy Scouts Circle 10 Council or your local scout troop.

Joan Marie Hammer Moore, 88, joined her Savior in Heaven on August 3, 2024. 

There will not be a memorial service but the family is inviting you to visit and leave comments on the online memorial page: https://www.forevermissed.com/joan-moore

Born June 12, 1936, in Bethany, Oklahoma to Clarence Hammer and Addie Josephine Joplin Hammer Stenmo, Joan and her family moved to the San Francisco Bay area when she was 5. 

 After graduating from high school, she worked for Youth for Christ as a secretary for Harvey Moore, her future husband. Joan was married to the Reverend Harvey Lee Moore, Jr. for 53 years until his death in 2010.  

Joan was many things in her lifetime – secretary, court reporter, truck dispatcher, and realtor - but her greatest joy in life was being a wife, mother and grandmother.  In every aspect of life, Joan’s goal was to assure people were taken care of and felt like they belonged.  

She had a special talent for planning and hosting events to bring people together. From children’s birthday parties to church mixers, Joan was your go-to person.  Her sense of humor was ever present. She was strong willed, intelligent and freely shared her opinions with others. Her feisty spirit matched her red hair! Joan was creative and enjoyed learning new things—especially about people. She loved to people watch on many trips with her three daughters. 

Joan loved God and the church, faithfully serving both as a pastor’s wife and later, after Harvey’s death, as a volunteer. 

Joan is survived by sister Clare Clair, sister-in-law Carolyn Hammer, daughters Jodi Campbell (Scott), Kerri Moore (Armando), Staci Smith (Jeff), 4 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren and many other extended family members. Her daughters and their families will miss her very much and will forever be grateful for her presence and influence in their lives.

In keeping with Joan’s life of service, she donated her body to scientific research at UT Southwestern Medical School.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/ or Legacy at Home Hospice https://thelegacyseniorcommunities.org/donation/.

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Donna Lynne Foster of Wylie, Texas was born on November 12, 1956 in Canton, Mississippi to Larry and Jimmie Nell Lawrence. She passed away on June 29, 2024. She married Dean Foster on August 17, 1975 in Jackson, Mississippi, and moved to Dallas TX immediately following their wedding.

She will be remembered for her love for her children and grandchildren, always putting others before herself, traveling with her husband, and absorbing life on a quiet beach. She loved the Lord and accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. She is loved and will be missed by her family and all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Jimmie Nell Lawrence; and brothers, Larry Keith Lawrence and Ricky Lawrence.

She is survived by her husband, Dean Foster; son, Mark Foster and wife, Laken; daughters, Shannon Foster; Astrid Foster Bard and husband, Kirk; Grandchildren, Logan Bard, Ava Foster, Ethan Bard, Vaden Foster, and Mabry Foster; nephews, Matt Caanen and Hunter Lawrence; Niece, Lynsey Linderman; father, Larry Lawrence; stepmother, Shirley Lawrence; daughter in law Jessica Foster; sisters in law, Pam Foster and Holly Lawrence; uncle, Ronnie Parker; and aunt, Bonnie Parker Davis.

A service in her remembrance will be held on August 3, 2024 at 11:00 am at Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church located at 3901 North Star Road, Richardson, Texas 75082.

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Jon Macey O’Neill, born April 18, 1940, went home to be with our Lord on Sunday July 7, 2024, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.

He was born to Hazel and Macey O’Neill, both of whom preceded him in death. He graduated from Lane Tech College Preparatory High School for boys in Chicago, IL. Following high school, Jon attended and graduated from the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, OK. He earned a BBA. He was an active member in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He met Mary Lee Bradford O’Neill while attending TU. They married on November 23, 1963. She preceded him in death.

Jon worked for over 50 years in the retail industry – clothing and automotive – including owning his own ladies’ boutique named “Jon’s” in Ft. Smith, AR. While living in Arkansas, he was a very active Scout leader for the Boy Scouts of America while his son was active with them. Jon was also a member of the Masonic Order, attaining the level of Shriner. After retiring, Jon’s love of traveling and connecting with friends and family became his priority. He drove all over North America multiple times and enjoyed a few cruises.

Jon is survived by one son, four daughters, nine grandchildren, and many many great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Dallas Street Dog Advocates (dsda.org) where the family adopted their last dog, Moose, or the Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org) to help find a prevention or cure for this awful disease.

A Memorial Service for Jon will be on Saturday, July 27, 2024, 2:00 p.m. at Canyon Creek Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas.