Betty Braden

Betty Lou McIntire Braden, loving wife, precious mother, and adored grandmother and great-grandmother, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, February 7, 2026. She was born on Sunday, June 9,1940, in Cleburne, Texas to Claude Alvin and Lorene McIntire of Nemo, Texas.

Betty had a rich Christian heritage. Her father was an ordained deacon, and her mother was a strong Christian influence in her life, as were her grandparents. Her parents were very involved in the organizing and building of their church, New Prospect Baptist Church in Nemo. Betty received Jesus as her Lord and Savior at the age of eight, and was baptized at the river near her house. In her school years, Betty remained faithful in her church attendance, and sang in a trio at many youth rallies and in many church services in the local Baptist association of churches.

Her college days at East Texas Baptist College in Marshall, Texas, were very meaningful. It was during her freshman year that she met and began dating a junior student named Doyle Braden, who loved the Lord and wanted to serve Him in ministry. By the end of her sophomore year they were very much in love, engaged in September of 1960, and were married on February 11, 1961 after Doyle had graduated from college in January. As Betty finished her junior year at ETBC, they discovered they were expecting their first child. Soon after, Doyle was ordained to ministry and as a couple they began their first of many faithful years of service and dedication to God's Kingdom work in Texas and California.

In order to help with expenses as a young wife, Betty had several job experiences as a teacher and secretary, but being a mom and wife were her priorities. During her daughters' school years, she was able to find secretarial positions that allowed her to work during school hours so that she could stay involved in their extracurricular activities. When she and Doyle moved to California to work with a ministry, Betty had the privilege of working in the Southern California Billy Graham Crusade office.

Over the years, Betty was faithfully involved in the churches where Doyle served on pastoral staff. She loved her involvement in Children's Ministry teaching Sunday School and working in Vacation Bible School, and enjoyed the relationships developed while hosting youth in their home during the years Doyle served as Youth Minister. She also found such joy serving in music ministry singing in the choir and with a ladies sextet, The Carrolltones, for seven years. Some of her favorite memories involve several mission trips with the entire family helping churches with Vacation Bible School and other needed church educational ministries. She was often asked to speak at women's events and retreats, but much preferred one-on-one ministry opportunities. Her years of mentoring young women, young wives, and pastors' wives has been a rewarding experience, and many lasting friendships were developed through this ministry over the years. For over thirty years, Betty was very thankful for ministry opportunities she experienced serving alongside Doyle as a church secretary in Texas, and as an office administrator for the Orange County Southern Baptist Association office where they served as North American Mission Board missionaries.

After Doyle passed away in March 2021, Betty moved to St. George, Utah to live with her daughter, Debbie, and her son-in-law, John Shirey. She quickly joined First Southern Baptist Church St. George, and as health would allow, became involved in Ladies' Bible Study, Women's Ministry events, the Widows' Fellowship, and serving in Vacation Bible School. She loved the friendships made, and enjoyed attending churchwide fellowship meals, prayer meetings, and game nights with her new church family.

Betty was preceded in death by the love of her life of 60 years, Doyle, her parents, and her sister, Claudine Oswald. She is survived by her two daughters and 11 grandchildren: Debbie (John) Shirey, Bethany, David (Charity), Brelynn (Kea) Vierra, Joshua (Angela), Rebekah, and Ramah; and Dana (Randy) Campbell, Shelby (Mikey) Diomartich, Bailey (Will) Small, Ryleigh (Jack) Gallagher, Jeremiah (Hailey), Perri. Her ten great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Sandra Coleman, and several nieces and nephews.

Betty's life was a testament to the power of faith in God, the value of church community, and the enduring strength of family ties. She was the epitome of strength and grace facing life's challenges with unwavering faith. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of all those she touched.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Southern Baptist Church, 475 W. Buena Vista Blvd., Washington, UT, 884780, on Saturday, February 21st, at 11am.

There will also be a service at Betty and Doyle's home church in Southern California on Saturday, March 7th at 3pm at Hope in the Valley Baptist Church, 1480 N. Kirby St., Hemet, CA 92545.

To celebrate Betty's wonderful life and to remember her indelible impact, we encourage those who knew her to share their memories and upload photos on her memorial page. Let us come together to remember Betty, not with sorrow, but with joy for having been part of her remarkable journey. Her life was a beautiful story, and we invite you to help us tell it.