Betty Lee Treece gently stepped from this world onto the shores of her heavenly home on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 at the age of 90. Her race fully run, she received her reward for a life lived with fervency, faithfulness, prayer and service. 

Betty was born to ‘Short’ and Ella Lee (Hudson) Osborne  in Bosque County, Texas Jan. 15, 1934. As the child of Depression-era farmers, Betty and her younger twin brothers, Pat and Mike, learned early on the rhythm of early morning chores, days of picking cotton and planting seed, and checking chicken coops for eggs. But at her parents side, she also learned a deep love for people, helping others who were without, and especially, to honor and serve the ministry that passed through their community church. 

In this community church, Betty first began to sing as her mother and father led the singing. At 10 years old she began to play the piano for churches and nearby camp meetings. During the summers, she spent her daddy’s hard earned pecan picking money at the Stamps Music School in Dallas, focusing on quartet-style harmonies and piano playing. As a young teenager, she and her friend had their own weekly Cleburne based radio program, where she would play as they sang. 

As a 16 year old girl playing the piano at a camp meeting in Morgan, Texas, she caught the eye of the young evangelist, Marvin D. Treece. Within two years, in the summer of 1953, the young couple set out on a path that encompassed a life of faith, evangelism, music and pastoring. 

After two early pastorships in Vivienne and Monroe, La., they were called in January of 1960 to their permanent church home in Lake Charles, La. as the pastors of Apostolic Temple located at the corner of Hodges and Pine. Here she assumed the role of pastor’s wife with a dedication and fervency that would continue throughout her life. Like Ecclesiastes directs the faithful, whatever her hand found to do, she did with all her might. Creating and leading a choir, being a youth leader, a Bible Quiz coach, a Sunday School Teacher, directing Christmas programs, cleaning the church, opening her home and table to countless pastors, missionaries and ministries, her roles were ever evolving and ever demanding. Alongside her husband, Betty sang and played the accordion at countless meetings and camps, and even played the piano for the original Conqueror’s Quartet, the Pentecostal-Aires with O.C. Thompson. But in each capacity, her love and devotion to people shone through. Her ability to accept and draw people into her world made her beloved to those with which she had only the briefest acquaintance. For others, her tenderness and care made her a ‘Mother of Israel.’

Of all her roles, the ones that involved family were her most cherished. As a mother to the Rev. R.D. Treece and Paula Anderson, she poured her heart into countless expressions of love, dresses made, meals prepared, stories read aloud, and fervent prayers of safety and guidance prayed. “Let the angels be around you,” was the constant refrain. This love continued to expand with a daughter-in-law, Dianna, and son-in-law Russell. The circle grew larger, with grandchildren and their spouses, and finally, great-grandchildren. Distance did not dim the light of love that shone for her nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, and countless distant relations that she faithfully called and wrote to, relishing their successes and weeping with them in their moments of hurt. 

At 12 years old, Betty received the beautiful gift of the Holy Ghost. And for the next 78 years she sought to follow Jesus’ words, “That ye love one another; as I have loved you.” Her deep love for Him allowed her to love and express that love to all that entered her sphere. 

All those she leaves behind will feel the absence of that expressive love, but rejoice knowing she is with the one who is love. 

Betty is preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, the Rev. Marvin D. Treece; her mother Ella Lee Hudson Osborne; father, I.E. “Shorty” Osborne; brother, Pat Osborne, and sister-in-law, June Osborne. 

She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, the Rev. Rick and Dianna Treece; daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Russell Anderson; three grandchildren and their spouses; five great-grandchildren, and brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Ruth Ann Osborne, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended relatives.

Visitation will be held Saturday, Dec. 14 at Apostolic Temple from 2 p.m. 4 p.m., with the Memorial service following visitation at 4 p.m. The Rev. Jordan Anderson will officiate the service. The Interment services for burial will be Monday, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. in the Brazos Point Cemetery in Brazos Point, Texas. 

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the caregivers of Sage Oak facility, St. Joseph Hospice, and Rene Quibideaux. Your kindness and care are greatly appreciated.