Bettye Lea Beasley Bruning

Bettye Lea Beasley Bruning, age 74, of Natchitoches, LA, passed away Sunday, October 4, 2009, at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center in Natchitoches, LA. Arrangements are being handled by Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday, October 6, 2009. The funeral service will be at First Baptist Church Natchitoches at 3:00 PM Wednesday, October 7, 2009, with Rev. Thomas Rush officiating. Interment will be at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. Bettye was an educator for over forty years in the Natchitoches area. She was the head librarian at Natchitoches Central High School for 32 years. She always placed her family first in all things. She was a very loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Bettye believed very strongly in education, and made many friends over the years she spent as an educator. She was a kind and compassionate person, and will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She was the preceded in death by her parents, Lee Beasley and Forrist (Collier) Beasley; and one brother, William Beasley. She is survived by her husband James Bruning, Sr.; two daughters, Janyce Kinley and husband Allen of College Station, TX and Harryette Tinsley and husband Sutton of Arcadia, LA; one son, James Bruning, Jr. and wife Kathryn of Humble, TX; and four grandchildren, Kelsey Kinley of College Station, TX, Hannah Tinsley of Arcadia, LA, Lauren Tinsley of Arcadia, LA, and James Rayford Bruning of Humble, TX. Pallbearers will be Billy West, Jr., Edd Lee, Kenneth Trahant, Stuart Wright, Terry Downs, Warren Massia, James Lee, and Gary DeBlieux. Honorary pallbearers will be Roy Underwood, Dan Poole, Glen Monsour, Trent Melder, and David Elkins.