Betty Laury
Gift Shop Clerk
Nutrition Services

Like many UT Southwestern employees, Betty Laury applied for a job at the suggestion of a relative working here. Hired as an Assistant Unit Clerk at the former St. Paul Hospital 45 years ago, she progressed to posts in the mailroom, then Central Supply, and, ultimately, to where she works today and loves best: the Gift Shop at Zale Lipshy Pavilion – William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.

Selling flowers, balloons, and gift baskets became her calling. So did connecting with customers.

“When someone comes in and wants to talk, I’m happy to get into a conversation,” she says. “When they leave the shop, they often tell me, ‘I’m so glad I came in to talk to you.’ I always look forward to putting a smile on someone’s face.”

Ms. Laury adds her personal touch to the merchandise displays in the Gift Shop – and the customer experience.

“I’m creative about thinking what people would like,” says Ms. Laury, who works alone 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. three days a week and with a part-time assistant the other two days. “I think, ‘If I were going to purchase this, what would I like?’ I might include earbuds, snacks, a mug, plush toys. It’s a gift from God I have, being able to do this.”

When she’s not at work, Ms. Laury enjoys tending to her flower garden or cooking her mouthwatering chicken Alfredo with broccoli casserole. She also loves spending time with her two sons and three grandchildren, antiquing, and collecting teddy bears – so many she’s lost count.

She’s always ready to go back to the Gift Shop, though, to meet new people or greet those who stick their heads in the door and holler, “Hey, Betty!” She says each of her roles at UT Southwestern has been a source of growth, leaving her with cherished lessons she carries into all aspects of her life.

“I’ve developed compassion working here,” Ms. Laury says. “There’s so much I’ve learned; I’m trying to think of a word that would encompass it all.”

She pauses to gather her thoughts before continuing: “We’re all part of the human race. Here, you learn how to love, how to give, and how to respect one another.”