Betty Catherine Fine, age 97, died on October 21st, 2025 at Leisure Village in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born Betty Catherine Cartwright to Morris Carl and Mittie Catherine (Wakefield) Cartwright on November 21, 1927 in Greenville, TX

As the daughter of a Methodist pastor, Betty moved around every year or two. She attributes her ability to easily make new friends to all this moving around. She loved to read, was an inquisitive student and wanted to become a teacher. But her aspirations were put on hold when she married and began her own family.

She created long term friendships in her life, including her longest with Mary Ellen Estes, whom she met in the 5th grade in Oklahoma City. She had close friends who helped her through the hard times of raising five children as a young mother. Many were neighbors in Enid and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, as well as work mates at Sears, Penney's, and Dillard's in Tulsa.

Ever the adventurer, she learned how to play golf after marrying the love of her life, Paul Fine, in1982 at age 55, and traveled with him across the US after he retired.

Betty was a Methodist all her life and always enjoyed singing in the choir or playing the piano for the congregational singing. Betty spent her last years as a resident in Leisure Village, where she made many new friends. She played the piano to the enjoyment of the residents, was active there and became both a joyful presence and a serious domino player.

She called herself a proud Liberal, which meant to her she was living as a Christian. She wanted to include, not exclude people. Her Daddy told her "We are ALL God's children", so that is how she wanted to treat everyone, no matter how different they were from her. If you are reading this, Betty wanted to let you know she appreciated you just as you are.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of nearly 30 years, Paul A. Fine of Davis, Oklahoma, her parents Carl and Mittie Cartwright, brother Carl Cartwright Jr. (and wife Donna) of Tulsa, and sister Carolyn Gregor of Mannford, OK. Also preceding her in death were both of her sons, Ray Murphy Jr. of Whitesboro, Texas, and Jerry Murphy of Tulsa, her eldest daughter Catherine Annette Martin of Tulsa, and her two oldest granddaughters, Darcey Soward and Kim Bailey.

Surviving are two sisters Martha Swezey and JoAnn Terrell (husband Jim) of Tulsa; two daughters, Pamela Bergdall (husband Terry) of Chicago and Janet Murphy of Tulsa. Also surviving are an assortment of nieces and nephews, in-laws, cousins, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Through both formal and informal adoptions, she has great-grandchildren from Cameroon, Kenya, and Zambia.

Betty was a blessing to all who truly knew her, and her joyful spirit and consistent smile will be greatly missed.

If you would like to honor Betty, please send a donation in her name to:

New Haven United Methodist Church

5603 S. New Haven Avenue

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135