Grace Arlene (Barth) Batey, 91 of Dewville, died July 3, 2022.

Visiting will be Friday, July 8, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Tres Hewell Mortuary, Seguin, Texas. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with Reverend Rip Collins officiating. Interment will follow at Dewville Cemetery.

Grace was born on August 20, 1930 in Falls City, Texas to William Eugene and Myrtle Irene Barth.

She went to school in Falls City until 10th grade and graduated in 1949 from Karnes City High School. She attended Texas Lutheran College in 1949, before transferring to Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College in 1951.

She met the love of her life, Sonny Batey, while working the soda fountain at Hewell’s Drug Store in Nixon, in 1949. Sonny and Grace were married September 13, 1952 at the Baptist Student Union of Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College, San Marcos. She continued to work on her college education while raising four young boys. She obtained her baccalaureate in 1963.

She began a teaching career that spanned 40 years in 1962. She taught her freshman year at Nixon ISD, and joined her husband at Seguin ISD in 1963; first at Mary B. Erskine, then at Jefferson, Briesemeister, and Weinert elementary schools, ending at Lifegate Christian School. She was honored in 1995 as teacher of the year at Seguin.

Sonny and Grace loved to dance to country music and in their later years became regulars at the Silver Center’s Friday night dances. Their long-standing church affiliation was with Dewville United Methodist Church.

Grace is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of 67 years, Andy Hugh “Sonny” Batey; his brother, William “Bobby” Barth and his wife Josephine; his stepfather and stepmother Andy Walter “Bud” and Lella Lee (Burns) Batey.

Survivors include his sons, Andy Hugh Batey, Jr. and his wife Carla, Eugene Lee “Uski” Batey and his wife Kristy, Richard Miller Batey and his wife Kori, and Trant Walter Batey and his wife Alena; grandchildren, Taylor Collins, Keegan Collins, Caitlyn Hafer and her husband Aaron, Christopher Roach, Grace Batey, Jarrett Batey, Drew Batey, Kaylie Batey, Luke Batey, Ariana Freeman and Mila Batey; great-granddaughter Everly Hafer; niece and nephews, Yvonne (Barth) Alire, Dean, Wendell and John Barth and their families; many cousins, other loving family members and many friends.

The pallbearers will be Jarrett Batey, Drew Batey, Luke Batey, Taylor Collins, Aaron Hafer and Christopher Roach.

The family would like to express their most sincere gratitude to the staff of the Hospice GRMC. To Cat, Sonia, Carmen, Linda and the others who have cared for her over the past few years: Thank you so much for the kindness you have shown Nana and our family during this difficult time.

Memorial contributions may be made to Guadalupe Regional Medical Center Hospice, 1215 E Court St., Seguin, TX 78155, or Dewville United Methodist Church, PO Box 404, Nixon, TX 78140.

You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.treshewell.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Tres Hewell Mortuary, 165 Tor Dr., Seguin, Texas, 78155, 830-549-5912.