Betty Phariss

Betty Irene Phariss, born July 20, 1941, in the humble town of Blackfoot, Texas, gracefully departed from this world on June 11, 2026, in Fresno, California. Throughout her life, Betty embodied the essence of love and nurturance, making her home a sanctuary for everyone who walked through its doors. Her culinary prowess was legendary, and the joy she derived from cooking for her family made every meal a celebration. As she would often say after a fulfilling meal, "Kitchen’s Closed!"

Betty was a homemaker creating warmth and comfort for her family, and making their house a home. Over the years, Betty and her beloved husband James Phariss of 65 years created a lifetime of memories, filled with laughter, love, and the occasional tears of joy. She was the proud mother of Tina Stewart(Tom) Kim West (Steve) and Kelli Flint (Scott), doting grandmother to her "SugarBabies" Ashley, Amanda, Courtney, Zack, Ryan, Samantha, Wynn, Skye, and great-grandmother to Blakley, Emmett, and Hudson. Betty was also survived by her sister, Helen Ragan, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Before her, Betty's parents, Melvin and Nettie Alexander, her sister Dovie Tollison, and her daughter Tina Stewart, had taken the journey home to be with our Lord and savior Jesus.

A graveside service will be held at Pioneer Cemetery, Watsonville, California, 95076, on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 1:00 pm PDT. We invite all those who knew and loved Betty to join us in celebrating her life and the legacy she leaves behind.

In honor of Betty's life, we encourage you to share your memories of her and upload photos to the memorial page. In this way, we can all contribute to a living tribute that reflects the wonderful woman Betty was and the impact she had on all our lives.