Obituary of Betty Lemmond Swyers

Betty Sue Lemmond Swyers, 86, of Fort Worth, passed away January 7, 2022 with her family by her side.

Raised by the late Frank Stanley Lemmond Sr., and the late Estella Hudson Lemmond of Marshall, Texas, she was a proud graduate of Lutcher Stark High School, Texas A&I University (BA English), and Texas Christian University (MS Educational Psychology). 

A longtime resident of Fort Worth, she lived in the Wedwood neighborhood for more than 50 years and raised three children.  During this time she had a successful career as a secondary grade school and collegiate educator as well as a second entrepreneurial career in the garment industry.  She taught at Everman High School and was the first and long-time English department chair at Tarrant County Jr College Northeast Campus.  She joined her husband in his business representing primarily children’s clothing companies and was a welcome presence at the Apparel Mart in Dallas for decades.  Later she founded her own apparel company and was an early investor in clothing manufacturing in Vietnam following market reforms there.

An avid reader of literature, both fine and popular, she was an intellectual influence on her many students and business associates.  She was a longtime enthusiast of DFW teams and could carry on lively, informed discussions on many sports topics.  She was also an unrelenting booster of her adopted hometown of Fort Worth as well as all things TCU. 

Her kindness and generosity will be sorely missed as well as her inspiring enthusiasm.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Arch, Frank, and James; and one sister, Nadine. 

She is survived by sister, Alpha Lemmond Burdine of Buna, Texas; her loving husband of 65 years, John Rice Swyers; three children, Lisa Swyers, John Swyers Jr, and Kay Swyers; and three grandchildren, Evan Swyers, Will Baker and Evie Baker.