The following obituary was written by Bettye Anne’s family:
Bettye Anne Gentry Gonzalez passed away peacefully on a Saturday morning, September 5, 2026, at the age of 90. Born in Lawrence County, Alabama, on November 18, 1935, she was the daughter of Otis Lee Gentry and Mildred Sullivan Gentry and the granddaughter of William Newton and Mary Elizabeth Aaron Gentry and John and Maude Sullivan. Bettye grew up in Lawrence County and attended Moulton Elementary School. She graduated from Lawrence County High School with an A average and a remarkable record of scholarship, leadership and service. She served as junior-and senior-class president, was a cheerleader for four years and was selected as Miss L.H.S. She also served as a state Future Homemakers of America officer, was chosen as one of the senior-class beauties and, the following year, was selected as Lawrence County Maid of Cotton. She continued her education at the University of North Alabama, graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and business. Her college years reflected the same energy and generosity that defined her life. As a freshman, she was selected by the faculty as Most Outstanding Freshman and received a scholarship to attend leadership training at Danforth Leadership Camp in Michigan. At graduation, she received the Juris Fidelio Award for outstanding leadership to the school and was elected to the university’s Hall of Fame. She was also selected as the university’s Outstanding Student, served as May Day Queen and held leadership positions in student government, Kappa Delta Pi education fraternity, the women’s student government association and Sigma Tau Pi business fraternity. She participated in Inter-Presidents Council, May Day Court, Friendliest Court, YWCA, Baptist Student Union and the freshman welcoming committee. Following graduation, Bettye taught advanced mathematics at Decatur High School. At the end of that school year, she married Dr. Eduardo Gonzalez, whom she had met at UNA. Before their marriage, she visited his home in Puerto Rico, where he was working as a chemist with W.R. Grace Paper Company in Peru. The couple chose to make their first home in Lawrence County. Bettye taught mathematics and business courses in Lawrence County schools while Eduardo taught Spanish and mathematics at Lawrence County High School. Two years later, Eduardo continued his medical education in Zaragoza, Spain. Bettye taught at the U.S. Air Force Dependents School there and studied Spanish with a private instructor. During those years, they welcomed three children: twin daughters Lettye and Melicia, and a son, Gentry. At different times, the family returned from Spain, and Bettye taught Spanish and mathematics at Lawrence County High School as well as business courses at Lawrence County Technical School. When Eduardo completed his studies, the family lived in Puerto Rico for ten years. Bettye taught at Robinson School, where her children were enrolled, and taught advanced mathematics at the Army Dependents School at Fort Buchanan. She also attended Interamerican University and continued studying Spanish. The family later returned to Moulton, where she again taught mathematics and Spanish at Lawrence County High School and mathematics at Speake High School. During this period, she completed postgraduate work in mathematics at the University of Alabama and continued her studies at UNA, earning a Master of Science degree in mathematics education with highest honors. After leaving the classroom, Bettye managed her husband’s obstetrics and gynecology practice at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield for twenty years. She was a member of the Colbert County Ladies Medical Auxiliary and brought the same intelligence, organization and care to that work that she had brought to her teaching career. Faith was at the center of Bettye’s life. She was a devoted member of Moulton Baptist Church, where she taught the young women’s Sunday School class for more than twenty years, sang in the choir and played handbells and piano whenever needed. She also assisted with children’s choirs and youth and adult mission trips. During the family’s years abroad, she served as full-time pianist at Calvary Baptist Church in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was active in Southern Baptist work in Zaragoza, Spain. She was also a member of the Talisman Garden Club and the Page Turners Book Club of Morgan-Lawrence County. Bettye loved music, gardening, sewing, reading, managing her farms and traveling. She visited nearly every state, including Hawaii and Alaska, and traveled to thirty-seven countries and islands across the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Mexico and Israel. She was especially grateful for the opportunities to visit Cuba several times with Eduardo as part of the Baptist Medical-Dental Fellowship, attending medical-evangelical meetings and visiting with people in homes, hospitals and other gathering places. Above all, Bettye found her greatest happiness in her family and in being a wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. The family spent many Christmases together in Telluride, Colorado, enjoying the snow and skiing, and they created treasured memories traveling together on cruises. She loved her family deeply, visited them as often as possible and leaves a legacy of faith, learning, hospitality and devotion. Her greatest wish was that all of her children and grandchildren would know Jesus personally and live for Him. Bettye was preceded in death by her husband, Eduardo Gonzalez, her parents, Otis and Mildred Gentry, and grandparents, William and Mary Gentry, John and Maude Sullivan; her brother, Carl Gentry; and her twin daughter, Mildred Melicia. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Leticia “Lettye” Gonzalez Burgtorf and her husband, Allen, of Rosemary Beach, Florida; her son, Dr. Gentry Gonzalez, three granddaughters, Elizabeth Hunter Burgtorf, Hannah Grace Burgtorf and Gabriela Mae Gonzalez; one grandson, Kaden Gann Gonzalez and one great-granddaughter, Maverick Hannah Burgtorf. She is also remembered with love by extended family, church family, former students and friends whose lives she touched across many years and many places. Visitation will be Friday, September 11, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Moulton Baptist Church where the service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Moulton Memory Gardens. Dr. Jesse Reeder will officiate. Memories and condolences can be shared at moultonheritagefh.com.
