Betty Diane Knipe

BETTY DIANE KNIPE “TEX” September 6, 1932 – December 9, 2024, Age 92 Betty Diane Knipe “Tex” was born to Alan “Red” and Lillian Knipe in Houston, TX. She had one younger brother Alan Leo Knipe “Butch”. Although she never married or had children of her own, she devoted her life to young people and had an indelible influence on many! Small in stature but larger than life, she became known to many as “Tex”. Growing up she was very active in Girl Scouting and camping, eventually assuming volunteer and professional leadership positions and received the Thanks Badge (highest adult honor) in both Texas and Tennessee. She was the first in her family to graduate college obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree from SW Texas State and a Masters from Memphis State University. She taught and coached basketball, volleyball, and tennis in Woodsboro, TX for 15 years. She even took her basketball team to the Texas State Championships. She also taught at Memphis State University for 7 years where she developed an Outdoor Recreation Club taking students backpacking in the Ozarks, the Smokies, and snow camping in the Rockies! She developed and led a 30-day “Great Western Trip” bus tour course for students which visited, camped, and experienced adventure in many of the Western National Parks. She served on the summer staff and eventually directed camps in New Mexico, Louisiana, and Tennessee. She was on the staff of National Girl Scout events: Round-Ups in Colorado and Idaho as well as All-States Encampments in North Carolina and Massachusetts. She was active in the American Camping Association throughout her camping career. After serving several years as a seasonal Director for the Tenn-Ark-Miss Girl Scout Council, she developed the equestrian camp site and program “Sandy Springs Ranch”, which she then directed for 25 years. Ultimately, she became the Council’s full time Camp Administrator, managing and living on the 1250-acre Sandy Springs property for 20 years. After retiring, she moved to Missouri to live adjacent to good friends and established “Tex’s Tiny Retirement Ranch”. She purchased more horses, at one time having a herd of seven, and found young people to share them with! Her greatest joy came from helping young people learn to appreciate animals, themselves, and the natural world. Also in retirement she had the opportunity to travel, which she could never get enough of! Even when her body said “no,” her brain said “Let’s Go!” Always expecting more of herself, other people, and life took her and many of those who knew her a long way! Per her wishes, Tex will be cremated and her ashes buried with her horses and her beloved canine companion Rascal. No public visitations or ceremonies will be held. A private Celebration of Life and Internment will be held at a later date. People may remember her through masses or donations to St. Joseph’s Indian School, Chamberlain, SD (for Equine Therapy Program); St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, Mt; or Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, San Angelo, TX.

Betty Diane Knipe

September 6, 1932 - December 9, 2024