About

Betty Pearl Gall, 75, of Ocala, FL quilter, tool designer, instructor, and business owner passed away on September 26, 2025 surrounded and held by family and friends. Betty was born on April 14, 1950 to Gladys E Clearman and William M Fleming in Sweetwater, TX. The granddaughter of cotton farmers, Betty grew up helping her mother and siblings.

With a high school education and a PhD from the school of life majoring in hard knocks, Betty was inspired by her Auntie Jean (Cleadus Mae Nelms) to move from Big Spring, TX to Ft Lauderdale, FL. Auntie Jean couldn’t resist setting up her cute, single, blonde niece Betty on a blind date with her husband's friend Tim. The blind date was a success. The two shared a love for problem solving. They were married for 49 years and had two daughters.

Betty began quilting in 1983 when she and her sister-in-law opened a quilt store. She co-owned a quilt shop Patchwork Posy in South Florida in the mid 80s where she began teaching quilting. As a quilter, Betty applied her larger than life creative mind to revolutionize the quilting industry. When others were cutting their fabrics using card board templates, Betty used an oversized plastic ruler and a pizza cutter to mass produce perfectly portioned strips of calico and batik fabrics. Betty designed the raised edge quilting rulers that revolutionized the quilting industry. She and her husband founded Quilter's Rule Int'l in 1983 and moved the business to Ocala in 1989. The international wholesale quilting supply company was sold in 1997 when Betty and her husband retired. Betty wrote two quilting technique books, appeared on PBS quilting series, taught at numerous quilt festivals, and judged quilt shows. Betty served as president of the Country Road Quilters and was an active member of Busy Bee Quilters in Ocala, FL.

Shortly after retirement, Betty became the family guardian for her aunt. Betty's experience as a family guardian inspired her to continue to help her local senior citizen population. In 2006, Betty became a court appointed legal guardian. Betty advocated for the needs of elderly and mentally challenged adults in the Ocala, FL area. Betty served as treasurer of the Heart of Florida chapter of the Florida State Guardianship Association. Betty formed lasting relationships with colleagues and left a positive impact on the community she served.

When Betty wasn’t laughing and joking, she was at the movies with her best friends of 30 years Jackie Heckman and Betty Sasina. The trio met every Friday to see “whatever was playing.” An eclectic soul, Betty also enjoyed rollercoasters, sudoku, haunted houses, bubble baths, scary movies, cuddling with her pets, and dancing for no reason.  

Betty was predeceased by her mother Gladys Clearman, father William Fleming, sisters Joyce Neil Klein and Gladys Joy Huddleston, numerous aunts and uncles including her aunt Cleadus Mae Clearman Nelms.

Betty is survived by her husband of 49 years Timothy W Gall, daughters Heidi Gall and Katie Gall, sister-in law Wendy Sarlay and husband Ralph Sarlay, brother Terry Perkins, sister Nancy Lindley, and best friends Jackie Heckman and Betty Sasina.

A private interment at Trinity Cemetery in Big Spring, TX will follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests Bible donations be made in Betty's memory through The Gideons International at 

www.sendtheword.org or American Bible Association at give.americanbible.org