Betty Lou Dyer Kanz

Betty Lou Dyer Kanz passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at the age of 93.

Graveside services will begin at 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 24, 2025, at Oakwood Cemetery. Family and friends will gather for visitation from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Sunday, February 23, 2025, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Blvd., in Waco.

Betty was born December 29, 1931, in Waco, Texas, to O.G. and Sarah Rowe Dyer. She graduated from Waco High School in 1950 and went on to attend TCU’s School of Business, earning a Bachelor of Science in Commerce in 1953. Betty started her career by briefly teaching school before working in bookkeeping for Central Butane and Waco Chevrolet, installing bank machines for NCR, and finally spending over 30 years alongside her husband at The Motor Shop until her retirement in 1993. Throughout those years, she wore many hats: mother, Camp Fire leader, Little League sponsor, wife, sister, friend, mother-in-law, and grandmother. Betty married Joe V. Kanz on his birthday, August 4, 1960, and they shared 54 happy years of marriage until his death in 2014. Both were members of the Methodist Church, and Betty and Joe were always side by side, hand in hand. Betty would bake her famous chocolate chip cookies for their annual customer meetings at The Motor Shop, always preparing no fewer than 50 dozen at a time. Everyone looked forward to those gatherings.

Betty enjoyed cooking, genealogy, caring for her plants, crocheting, cross-stitching, collecting clowns, traveling with Joe, spending precious time with her grandsons, and taking care of her little Pomeranian, Precious. For many years, she served on the board for Friends of Waco High. She loved planning class reunions and keeping in touch with old classmates. Until the end, Betty never lost her wit, humor, or strong opinions. She loved her family and friends, especially her grandsons and great-grandson.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joe V. Kanz; and her sister, Sue Carpenter.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathy Kanz and friend Alan of Watauga; sons, Keith and wife Di of Oakdale, California, and Ken and wife Robin of Waco; special grandsons, Andy and wife Morgan of Waco, Blake and fiancé Annaliese of Waco; her first great-grandson, Jesse Warren Kanz; and several nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers are Keith Kanz, Ken Kanz, Andy Kanz, Blake Kanz, and Jesse Kanz.

Memorials may be made to the Methodist Children’s Home, 1111 Herring Ave., Waco, TX 76708, or to Hospice at Community Healthcare of Texas.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Betty in her “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.