Nora Betty McCann

Nora Betty “Betty” McCann, 82, passed away on January 20, 2023, in Houston, Texas. Services will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 11:00 am at Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk, Texas, with Brother Jack White officiating. Burial will follow at Walker Chapel Cemetery in Reklaw, Texas. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023, from 5 to 7 pm at Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk, Texas. Betty was born Nora Betty McCreight in Maydelle, Texas to Katie and Albert McCreight. She grew up in Maydelle and Houston, Texas, with two brothers and two sisters. She met and married the love of her life, her soulmate, Gordon L. McCann. William Robert “Bob” McCann, who she affectionately called her bouncing baby boy, was truly the joy of her life. She welcomed her daughter-in-law, Miss Debbie, as her chosen daughter. Betty cherished her family and loved them fiercely. Family and friends were her passion and making people feel special was her gift. Betty loved celebrating people and their many milestones, whether a close friend or a new one. Betty was her mother’s daughter from the beginning to the end. Just like Ma, Betty made sure she fed you and loved you. Simple and pure. She was a wonderful cook and loved to entertain and host family and friends at Christmas or just an everyday affair. You were always welcome at her home and no invitation was needed. The wall inside her home fittingly said, “Enter as Friends, Leave as Family.” She worked for Aramark for over forty years at the Astrodome, The Summit and finally, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion as Controller. Betty was also an entrepreneur with her sister, Martha “Polly” McCreight, in a clothing business serving multiple locations, including boutiques in Houston’s Rice Village. Betty was authentic with her love and life. In a world of filters, she had none. She was a straight shooter, a truth teller, a leader, a matriarch, an incredible storyteller, and a rare person to be cherished. Betty was known by many names: Daughter, Sister, Mother, Cousin, Mema, Mimi, Aunt Bea, Miss Betty and most of all, Friend. She is preceded in death by her parents, Katie Sides McCreight and Albert Franklin McCreight, Brother, Albert Frank McCreight, Jr., Sisters, Geneva Garner and Martha “Polly” McCreight, Sister-In-Law, Nelda McCreight, nephews Terry Lee Duesterburg, Jerry Lee Garner and Carl Adam McCreight, her infant son and the love of her life, her Husband, Gordon L. McCann. Betty leaves a legacy that extends far beyond those physically here to carry her torch. Survivors include: her son, William Robert “Bob” McCann, and his wife (her daughter) Miss Debbie/Deborah S. McCann; granddaughters, Polly McCann Dunn and her husband, David J. Dunn, Stacey McCann Fransen and her husband, Mike Fransen; great-granddaughters, Audrey Grace Fransen and Sophie Kate Fransen; her brother, James McCreight and his wife, Dorothy Farris McCreight; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, which she cherished and adored. Pallbearers will be James McCreight, William Robert McCann, David J. Dunn, Jason McCreight, Mike Fransen and Johnny Hues. The family would like to thank the many caregivers and friends for their love, compassion, and kindness over these last several years. They touched Betty’s heart as much as she touched theirs. If you knew Betty, you know that she loved all things beautiful and adored flowers. She loved to receive flowers when she was living, and she wanted them at her final curtain. Again, thank you for loving Betty and helping us honor her life. She will be missed greatly.

Nora Betty McCann

April 25, 1940 - January 20, 2023