Betty Lou Bates Hillman

Betty Lou Bates Hillman passed away peacefully as the brilliant orange sunset reflected on the moon already high in the sky on the first day of spring, March 21, 2016, at her beloved ranch in Gonzales. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Betty was born in Oklahoma City on May 30, 1925 but her family relocated to Houston in her early childhood. She attended Austin High School where she was a member of the Scottish Brigade and caught the attention of Hal Hillman. They both attended the University of Texas at Austin where she obtained a Plan 2 Honors Bachelor in Business Administration. While in school, she worked for the Texas State Legislature as a reading clerk and was then elected as the recording secretary for the Texas House of Representatives.

Hal and Betty were married on June 5, 1943 and had two children, Michael and Trisha. Their loving relationship shared many similar interests in business, ranching and philanthropic endeavors. Mostly because of Betty’s fiercely independent personality, her and Hal each created and ran their own businesses.

Betty was a pioneer in the water district industry and was the founder of Water District Services in 1960 that operated neighborhood water districts in Harris County such as Inwood Forest, Briargrove Park, Northwest Park and others. Her business endeavors in real estate included ownership and management of a high-rise condominium in Houston as well as apartment complexes, but most passionately led to an affinity for ranch lands in Texas.

Enjoying their properties in five counties and raising cattle, Hal and Betty truly loved the ranching way of life. Ranching led to their involvement in the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo where Hal became the president and Betty the First Lady. Her involvement with the HLS&R continued where Betty served on the international committee. Betty was named the Pearl Award recipient for her continued service to the organization.

Some people do things for recognition but she helped so many people just because it was the right thing, and they were things that changed people’s lives. She never met a stranger and she took an interest in everyone she met. If you sat next to her on an airplane ride, she knew your whole family story by the time you reached your destination.

Betty had an interest in people and love for animals. Her beloved dogs travelled everywhere with her from the office during the week and to the ranch on the weekend. Her farm animals were treated like pets as well and when she arrived at the ranch the donkeys recognized her car and would be waiting at the fence for her to feed them a peppermint.

She found so much delight in those animals and spending time at her ranch in Gonzales. However, Betty’s family and friends brought her true happiness and she has left a lasting impression on each and every one of them. She is preceded in death by her parents Raleigh H. and Ethel D. Bates; sister, Jo Ann Rood and her lovingly devoted husband Hal Hillman. Left to cherish her memory are her son Michael (Cheryl) Hillman; daughter Trisha (Scot) Philipp; granddaughters Nicole (Justin) Cohen, Michelle (Brandon) Holcomb, Megan Philipp, Lesley Philipp and great-grandchildren Sophie, June, Asher, Davis and Hayes.

The celebration of her life will be held at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Rd. in Houston on Thursday April 7 at 3 p.m. with a reception to follow in St. Martin’s Parish Hall. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, that a memorial donation be made to a charity of one’s choice.