Betty Joan Campbell

Betty Joan (Ahboah) Campbell, a longtime resident of the Broxton community near Apache, Oklahoma, passed away on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at the age of 88. She was born on September 14, 1935, to Bert and Julia Ahboah in Lawton, Oklahoma. Betty grew up near Apache with her parents and two younger brothers, Don and Bobby. A
tight-knit family, they all played a part in the planting and harvesting operations of the land, as her father was a local farmer. After graduating from Broxton High School in 1953, where she excelled at her studies and was an all-area basketball player, Betty attended college at Southeastern State University in Durant, Oklahoma, where she met her future husband of 58 years, L'Roy Campbell. She enjoyed her college years, keeping busy working part-time at the campus bookstore and participating as a member of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, while pursuing her degree. She was named along with L'Roy as queen and king of the college's Beaux Arts Ball in their senior year. Betty graduated with a bachelor's degree in business in 1957. While L'Roy was stationed in South Korea serving the military, Betty earned her first master's degree at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. After L'Roy returned stateside, they were
married on July 11, 1959, at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Their daughter, Laura, was born at the base hospital, and they lived in Montgomery until L'Roy was honorably discharged in the summer of 1961. After L'Roy completed his military service, they moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area where Betty worked in Dallas for the federal government's Bureau of Indian Affairs. Eager to return to her Oklahoma roots, the family moved to the rural Broxton/Apache area in 1967 and soon
after, Betty completed a second master's degree-this one in guidance and counseling from Southwestern State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. After a successful career in government, she transitioned to education and spent many years in the Broxton and Fort Cobb school systems as a teacher and, later, guidance counselor. She also worked for the Oklahoma State Department of Education for five years, where she traveled the western half of the state in support of student education. She retired as a high school guidance counselor for Anadarko Public Schools in 1992. As a dedicated educator, she took pride in her students' achievements and maintained strong connections with many former colleagues and students. As much as she enjoyed working, Betty really loved her retirement years in the country with L'Roy and frequent road trips to Texas to visit their daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.
Together, they attended numerous school functions, fine arts/athletic events, and graduation ceremonies in support of their three grandsons. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, God was in her life on a daily basis, and she was always grateful for her family. More recently, she was thrilled by the arrival of her great-granddaughter Isla in December 2022.
A member of the Kiowa Tribe, Betty was always proud of her Native American heritage. She served on the tribal election board in the 1970s and took a keen interest in tribal operations and events. She was a descendant of I-See-O, a noted Kiowa-American soldier from the late
1800s through 1927, who was the last active duty U.S. Army Indian scout.

Betty spent countless hours collecting antiques and jewelry from premier markets and department stores in the greater Oklahoma area. For a time, she and L'Roy even turned their collectible hobby into a fun side business with displays in antique and consignment shops. Betty loved reading local newspapers and completing crossword puzzles to keep her brain active, as
well as binge watching Turner Classic Movies. Her favorite sport was basketball (she was a loyal supporter of her favorite team, the Oklahoma City Thunder), and she also greatly enjoyed watching OU Sooner football and softball.

Betty is survived by her daughter Laura Campbell of North Richland Hills, Texas; grandsons, Lorenzo IV (Lou) of San Francisco, California, David Salazar of North Richland Hills, and Robert (Nidia) Salazar of Fort Worth, Texas; great-granddaughter Isla Sophia Salazar of Fort Worth; son-in-law Lorenzo Salazar III of Colleyville, Texas; sisters-in-law Linda Ahboah of Oklahoma City, Ruth Thompson of Durant, Oklahoma, Joan Griffith of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Mary F. Smith of Anadarko, Oklahoma; local cousins, Karen Jo Deason of Apache, Oklahoma, and Blas Preciado, Jr. of Anadarko, Oklahoma, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, grandnieces,
grandnephews, as well as extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and brothers, Donald Ray Ahboah and Bobby Ahboah. Visitation with the family will be from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 24, with a memorial/prayer service beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Ray and Martha's Funeral Home in Anadarko, Oklahoma. Interment will be held Monday, September 25, at 10:00 a.m. at the Ahboah Family Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers are Betty's grandsons Lou, David and Robert Salazar and their father Lorenzo Salazar III; nephews Robert Ahboah and Mark Bedwell; cousins Blas Preciado, Jr. and Charles Preciado; and family friend Jim Harvey.

Funeral services are under the direction of Ray and Martha's Funeral Home.

Graveside Service: 10:00 a.m., Monday, Sept 25, 2023
Ahboah - Campbell Cemetery, Broxton, OK

Prayer Service: 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept 24, 2023
Ray and Martha's Funeral Home, Anadarko, OK
Visitation: 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept 23, 2023
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., Sunday, Sept 24, 2023

Family Visitation: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Sunday, Sept 24, 2023
Ray and Martha's Funeral Home, Anadarko, OK,
Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home
Anadarko, OK