Betty Beall Breedon

Breedon, Betty Beall Evans, age 89, an active community leader, teacher and Key to the City of St. Petersburg reciprient, joined the "Church Triumphant" on Sunday June 28, 2015 at Westminster Suncoast in St. Petersburg. A native Texan, Betty was born January 11, 1926 in Dallas to Dr. John Renshaw Beall and Gabriella Baldwin Beall, both from pioneer Texas families. In 1972 St. Petersburg became her adopted home. From that time forward, in addition to maintaining a career, she threw immense energy into volunteer service for her newly chosen community. Betty was graduated from Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas then went on to the University of Texas in Austin where she earned degrees in English and Religion. Active in many campus organizations, she held offices in the freshman honorary sorority Alpha Lambda Delta, in Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, in Orange Jackets and Mortar Board. She was named Outstanding Student and Goodfellow her senior year, 1946. After marrying Gulf Oil Executive David T. Evans in 1947, they lived in Houston until he answered his call into the ministry in 1953. The young couple and their daughter spent three years at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, followed by an opening assignment in Texas at the Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church. Then on to Bridgeport and Cleburne where Betty taught English and Bible History at Cleburne High School in the late sixties. She was active in the PTA and was a Cub Scout leader. In 1972 The Reverend Evans was named Associate Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg. From that day on St. Petersburg became home to the Evans family. For the next ten years Betty taught English and Bible History at St. Petersburg High School. After retiring from SPHS in 1982 she became a volunteer at Northshore Elementary School, tutoring in Mary McLean's third grade class for over twenty years. In 1987 she met and married the love of her life, Sam Breedon, who died of cancer three years later. Following his death Betty plunged even deeper into her world of volunteerism. She served as Guild Council President and St. Petersburg Day Branch President for All Children's Hospital Guild, chairing three different fund raisers. In 2011, after thirty years of active membership, she received the ACH Guild's "Maggie Heart Award", a tribute to her dedication, passion and long time service. In 2010 Betty was named Pinellas County School's Outstanding School Volunteer in recognition for her work with the children and staff of Northshore Elementary. For years she could be counted on locally to deliver Meals on Wheels. Active in the Stuart Society of the Museum of Fine Arts where she served as President, Betty was also named to the Promenade Best Groomed Walk of Fame by the Woman's Service League. In 1989 she was deeply honored to be named a Princess in the court of the Queen of Hearts. And her ultimate honor came in 1998 when she was presented the Key to the City of St. Petersburg for her volunteerism and dedication to the community. Betty loved music and was herself accomplished on the piano. From her initial move to St. Petersburg she was a season ticket holder for the Florida Orchestra. A member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, she enjoyed playing bridge every Friday. In 2009 she moved to Westminster Palms Communities from her favorite home, the Bayfront Tower on St, Petersburg's waterfront. Still, Betty never forgot her roots and took pride in her Texas heritage, often traveling to Dallas and other parts of the state to visit family and friends. She especially loved Decatur, spending quality time on the family's ranch property. First and always Betty was devoted to her church, beginning with the Cradle Roll at the First Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, later serving other churches as Sunday School Superintendent, President and life member of the Women of the Church, Bible teacher and Ruling Elder. With continuing zeal she embraced an over forty year membership in First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg. Betty's many other memberships included the St. Petersburg Woman's Club, The Florida Orchestra Guild, the Cross of Lorraine, St. Petersburg Pan Hellenic, Zeta Tau Alpha Alumni, Women's Chamber of Commerce, St. Petersburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. She is survived by daughter Elizabeth Anne Evans Hammer of St. Petersburg, Florida, son David T. Evans III (Marie) of Decatur, Texas, daughter Julia Gabriella Evans of Bull Shoals, Arkansas; grandchildren Elliott Collins (Cathy) of McKinney, Texas, Grant Collins of St. Petersburg, Florida, Treasa Evans of Decatur, Texas, Christine Evans of Arlington, Texas and Gabrielle Evans of Mountain Home, Arkansas; great grandchildren Paisley and Timothy Evans of Decatur, Texas, and step-great grandchildren Eryn and Brennan Tanksley of McKinney, Texas. Celebration of the Resurrection will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 701 Beach Drive Northeast, St. Petersburg on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at 11 A.M., followed by a reception in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine, First Presbyterian Church, or The Kind Mouse Productions, Inc. (727 528 8975), an organization which feeds over 200 children every weekend. The family extends special thanks to Westminster Palms Assisted Living, Westminster Suncoast Rapid Rehab and Skilled Nursing, Suncoast Hospice Empath Health, and Dr. Stephen Ducker.