Betty Jo Vigus

Betty Jo Claunch Vigus, 97, of Commerce, passed away on June 29, 2023. She was born May 14, 1926 in Carbondale, Illinois, the daughter of Marion and Evalena Claunch.

Betty grew up in Carbondale, Illinois on the family farm where her mother and father farmed. She met the love of her life, Bobby Vigus, on a train headed to Chicago. She and her mother were on their way home from Fort Worth visiting her brother, DeWitt. Bobby was in the Coast Guard headed to training in Chicago. They were soon married on June 30, 1944. After the war, Bobby and Betty settled in the Azle, Texas area.

In January of 1971, Betty went to work for Lester's Pharmacy as a pharmacy tech and retired 25 years later in March of 1996. Betty soon moved to Commerce to be close to her niece, Phyllis Draughn, and her great nephews. Betty didn't sit long as she went to work again for  Draughn's Child and Adult Care Nutrition Program in 1996 and retired again 13 years later at the age of 83. She was a member of Ash Creek Baptist Church in Azle for over 30 years until she moved to Commerce and joined First Baptist Church, Commerce. Phyllis introduced Betty to her friends, "This is my Aunt Betty. She just moved here from Azle." From that moment, she was known as "Aunt Betty" to everyone. Betty was a member of the choirs in both churches she attended.

Betty was a country girl at heart. She loved to work in her flower beds and mowed her lawn until she moved into Country Home Estates Assisted Living in June of 2013 at the age of 87. Betty was an avid bowler participating in bowling leagues for many years in Azle.

Left to cherish Betty's memory are her three nephews, Dee Claunch, Frank Claunch, and Gerry Claunch; great nephews, Bill, Bob, and Michael Draughn, Tillman and Tim Rodabough, and niece, Terry Atallah; many great great nieces and nephews as well as many great great great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bobby; parents, Marion and Evalena Claunch; and siblings, DeWitt Claunch, MD., Grace Sammet, Ralph Claunch and Francis Claunch.

The family wishes to express sincere thanks to the staff at Country Home Estates for their loving care of Betty.