Betty Condra

When admiring an architectural wonder like the Empire State Building, one often refers to its 102 stories, the 1,589,875 steps required to climb to the top, or the over 200,000 cubic feet of limestone and granite used to create its stunning exterior. One rarely marvels at its foundation – fifty five feet deep – built to support 365,000 tons of metal and stone. While hidden from view, it is that foundation which allows 4,000,000 people to visit its observatories each year.

Betty M. Condra was and is the foundation of our family and many of the good works that have helped so many in our community.

Betty was born Betty Ann Moore in Vernon, Texas on May 21, 1947 to Cecil Ray and Lois Evelyn (Norris) Moore. Her family soon moved to Plainview, Texas where Betty graduated from high school in 1965. Betty attended Texas Tech University and received a degree in Child Development. It was there that she met and married Gary D. Condra on December 23, 1967. Their marriage would last until his death in 2015.

Betty worked at the Merrick home and then South Plains Electric Cooperative as a home economist until the birth of her first child, Thomas Clayton Condra in 1969. That child would soon been joined by her daughter Merinda Kathryn Condra in 1970.

In 1975, Betty and Gary moved to Ft. Stockton where Betty became a teacher. It was there that Betty became acutely aware of the needs of children with learning differences. During her time in Ft. Stockton, Betty commuted to Sul Ross University to obtain her Master’s Degree in Education Administration.

In 1982, Betty and Gary moved back to Lubbock and Gary ran for Congress in an attempt to make important changes to Ag policy. At that time, Betty obtained her Real Estate license and began working in real estate. She became very involved in Democratic politics serving for many years as the representative from this area to the State Democratic Executive Committee. Her goal was to make the world a better place. She served on many state and local boards in service of that goal.

In 2002, she helped start Adoption Covenant, a nonprofit child-placing agency and is the reason Adoption Covenant helped over 600 children find their forever homes. She has been the inspiration behind the creation of the Elementary School for Education Innovation (ESEI) a free charter school with a focus on individualized learning and serving children with learning differences.

But those accomplishments do not even begin to capture her essence. One of her former classmates would put it better – Betty saw me, she knew my name, she made me feel I mattered. Betty saw so many people, she saw their heart, she saw their potential, and she believed in them and gave them the strength and courage to go forward.

Betty M. Condra is our heart and we will carry her with us every day. She accomplished her goal. Because she was here, the world is a better place.

She is survived by her son, Clay Condra, and wife Christy and their children, Mallory, Hunter, and Madison; her daughter Merinda K. Condra, and her daughters, Emma and Elle; nieces and nephews and many many friends who will love her forever.

Services will be held at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers, 6025 82nd Street on Sunday November 18, 2018 at 2:30 pm with reception to follow.