Betty Louise (Alexander) Alex was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on August 14, 1949. After an extended illness, she left her body while in hospital in San Antonio, Texas, on August 11, 2026, at the age of 76 years. She leaves behind her husband, Thomas C. Alex; and his son, Thomas Reed Alex; Reed’s wife, Heather; and grandchildren Jordyn Alex and Luke Alex; Betty’s son, Lorn Wayne Willingham; and grandchildren, James Willingham and Chelsea Villegas, her husband Mark and their family. She also leaves behind several precious kitties. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ollie and Christine Alexander.
Betty put herself through college as a single mom and did her graduate studies in wildlife biology at Corpus Christi State University. Betty worked for the U.S. Geological Survey for several years on offshore cruises collecting sediment samples from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico and processed those samples in the USGS sedimentology laboratory in Corpus Christi. She eventually became supervisor of the USGS sedimentology laboratory. In 1980 she applied to the National Park Service and began a new career at Big Bend National Park as the ranger activities clerk.
In the late 1980s, Betty took on the position of Geographic Information Systems specialist which enabled her to get back into science. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, she built the GIS program at Big Bend from the ground up. During Betty’s last few years with the National Park Service, she oversaw a project to document rare plant species. When she started this project, there were 36 plant species that were considered rare, threatened or at least uncommon in the national park. Four years later, that list had grown to over 300 species. Her photographic documentation of plants and their habitats grew to over 18,000 photos.
Betty had a profoundly unique relationship with the natural world. She was a scientist and a seer. She dedicated her life to the pursuit of natural history, wildlife biology, botany, and an intense connection with the Chihuahuan Desert.
A Celebration of Betty’s Life is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the Red Pattillo Community Center in Study Butte, Texas. There will be a sharing of stories followed by refreshments. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations: Grand Companions in Fort Davis, Texas; American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
