Bette-jo Simpson Buhler, 95

Bette-jo Simpson Buhler, 95, of Victoria, Texas, passed away Jan. 9, 2017. She was born May 2, 1921, in Olympia, Wash., to Blanche Taylor and Jess Ray Simpson.

She graduated from Annie Wright School in Tacoma, Wash., in 1938 and from the University of Washington in 1942. She married Frank Sibley Buhler Jr. on July 7, 1942. She and Frank moved to Victoria in 1948.

Bette-jo Buhler played a major role in building a statewide Republican party in Texas and was active in national Republican politics throughout her life. She was a leader in the 1961 campaign of Sen. John G. Tower, the first popularly elected Republican U.S. Senator from Texas. She served as co-chair of the Texas Republican Party and was a founding member of the Associated Republicans of Texas, serving on their board for 25 years. She was named by the National Republican Congressional Committee as the 2001 Republican of the Year.

Bette-jo Buhler was also active in a variety of other organizations. She joined the Seattle Junior League in 1945, and remained a sustaining member of the Victoria Junior League until her death. She helped start Trinity Episcopal School in Victoria and served on the board. She was Chairman of the Board of the Victoria Youth Activity Committee. She drove many miles over six weeks to organize a multi-county mental health organization, which began as the Child Study Clinic and developed into Gulf Bend Center. She worked diligently in an attempt to establish the University of Texas Medical Branch transplant facility in Victoria. She was also involved in the Victoria Symphony, the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho and the Texas State University System Foundation.

Bette-jo Buhler was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Victoria and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She retained her home in Hayden Lake, Idaho, where she spent five summer months every year and was a member of the Hayden Lake Country Club. Her hobbies included reading, needlepoint, bridge and traveling.

Bette-jo Buhler is preceded in death by both of her parents, her husband and by her brother, Jess Taylor Simpson. She is survived by her five children, Frank Sibley Buhler III, Leslee Kathryn “Honey” Alexander and her husband, the Honorable Lamar Alexander, Blanche Orbin “Bambi” Carter and her husband, Monty Carter, Jessica Weiland and her husband, Cass Weiland and Bruce Taylor Buhler; 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at Rosewood Funeral Chapels in Victoria. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, at Trinity Episcopal Church, with Reverend James Kee-Rees officiating.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Fred Lykes, Fred Lykes Jr., Joe Cohen, Blake Shaw, Jay Lack and Stanley Schweke. Honorary Pallbearers are David Engel, David Robinson and Richard Logan. Reception following the funeral service will be at her home for those who wish to console the family.

There will be a small memorial service in Hayden Lake in early summer. The specifics on that service are not yet known.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or Trinity Episcopal School, 1504 N. Moody St., Victoria, TX 77901; the Victoria Symphony or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.