Betty Lee Dunn

Betty Lee (Heidbreder) Dunn, 95, died peacefully of natural causes at her ranch home near Navasota, TX, on Thursday afternoon, September 4, 2025. She was born January 26, 1930, in York, NE, the daughter of Walter August Heidbreder and Mabel Clara (Learned) Heidbreder.

Betty grew up on a farm outside of York where she enjoyed attending school, participating in youth livestock shows, and playing in the youth baseball league with her younger brother, Walter Junior. After graduating from York High School in 1948, she worked at newspapers in Denver, Scottsbluff, North Platte, then Lincoln, which was where she met her future husband, Francis Patrick (“Pat”) Dunn, who was stationed there with the US Air Force. They married in 1957 and moved to Columbus, OH where Pat attended university and their first two sons, John and Mark, were born. In 1961, they moved to New Orleans where Betty embarked on the role of a supportive partner with Pat in his career at Shell Oil Company and completed their family with youngest son Brian. After work assignments took the family to Midland then back to New Orleans, they moved to Kingwood, TX in 1974 where they lived for 20 years. When Pat retired in 1994, they moved to a ranch in Columbus, TX and then to Navasota, TX in 1997.

Betty was a competitive amateur golfer, winning the New Orleans Women’s City Championship in 1972 and numerous Kingwood Country Club Championships. She and husband Pat enjoyed many golf vacations highlighted by playing Cypress Point on California’s Monterey Peninsula and several Scottish courses, including St. Andrews, Muirfield, and Royal Dornoch.

During her 28 years in Navasota, Betty was an active registered Beefmaster cattle rancher up until her death, managing a medium-sized herd. She worked hard to establish Dunn Ranch Beefmasters as a respectful and reputable producer of high-quality cattle. She enjoyed showcasing her ranch and sharing stories about each animal.

Betty was a founding officer of the Two Rivers Heritage Foundation of Navasota and the Trans-Brazos Valley. She served as its chairman for many years and was serving as vice chairman upon her death. She applied for historical designations and markers for several cemeteries and Navasota locations and assisted with many others. Betty was a true historic preservationist and was awarded for her work by Two Rivers Heritage Foundation.

Betty wrote dozens of historical short stories and biographies about the people and places of Grimes County. For years, the Navasota Examiner printed one of her stories in its weekly newspaper, which have been compiled and published in two books. She is well known and respected throughout the county for her knowledge of its history from the hours of research she has performed.

In addition to being an avid lifelong non-fiction reader and being active in journalism, research and writing (with numerous publications), at times in her life she had “mini-careers” in real estate, antiques, and genealogy. She even was instrumental in helping her son, John, establish a machine shop in the mid-80’s by handling office administration and deliveries, among other duties. In her down time, she enjoyed watching the Astros.

She is survived by her sons Mark and his wife Diana of San Antonio, and Brian and his wife Mia of Pasadena, CA. She was also blessed with three grandchildren: Jeffrey, Michelle, and Christopher. She also leaves nieces Jolene and Lori, and nephew Greg. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Pat, her son John and his wife Connie, her parents, and her brother, Walter Junior.

Services are scheduled for Friday morning, September 12, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Navasota, TX. Visitation will open at 9:00am with the Service at 10:00am. A short Reception will be held immediately after the Service.

Condolences and memories may be left at the Nobles Funeral Chapel at Navasota, TX. https://www.noblesfuneral.com/obituaries.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of Betty’s favorite charitable organizations: Twin City Mission, 2505 South College Avenue, Bryan, TX 77801.