Bettie Kay Purvis Gimbert

Mrs. Bettie Kay Purvis Gimbert passed peacefully to her reward on January 7th, 2021 at her home at Lake of the Pines, Marion Co. Texas. Bettie was born in Florence, S.C. on August 16th, 1946 to Gerald and Annette Purvis. After World War II, Bettie’s family relocated to Mansfield, La where she graduated from Mansfield High School, then from Northwestern State College with a degree in education. Bettie taught in Campti, Grand Cane, and Shreveport Louisiana. After moving to Texas, Bettie taught in Irving and Grapevine, teaching Texas History at Sam Houston Middle School in Irving and language arts at Heritage Middle School, where she retired in 2002. She was highly respected and loved by her peers and her students. Mrs. Gimbert is survived by her husband of 43 years, Louis “Joe” Gimbert of Lake of the Pines, Texas, her sons R.G. “Sonny” Bridges and wife Jenifer of Waskom, TX, Jonathan C. Bridges of Burleson, TX, and daughter Gretchen Foster and husband of Venus, TX, Grand children Christopher Bridges, Joseph Bridges, Carter Bridges, Tommy Foster, Tanner Foster, and Taylor Foster and numerous great grandchildren. Bettie enjoyed decorating her home for all seasons. She loved plants and flowers and spent hours pruning and watering her plants. Bettie was an avid card player and enjoyed many Saturday nights playing cards with neighbors, and her monthly Bunco night was a favorite. She loved travel and we made RV trips to many destinations. Cruses to the Caribbean and a trip to Italy were among her favorites. She was a member of the Harleton Methodist Church where we found a loving church family. She was a member of the Eastern Star and Daughters of the Confederacy. Mrs. Gimbert will be interred at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches Louisiana. Due to the Covid19 virus there will no funeral services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude or the Shrine Hospital in her name.