You would be hard-pressed to find someone friendlier and more thoughtful than Betty Laury, a Clerk in the gift shops of William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital and Zale Lipshy Pavilion.

Ms. Laury found her way to UT Southwestern when she joined as a Unit Assistant at the former St. Paul University Hospital in 1980. During her 40-year tenure, she spent much of her time working in the Central Supply Department at St. Paul, including the campus mailroom.

Ultimately, Ms. Laury found her strengths were best suited for a customer-facing role; she has worked in the gift shop for more than 25 years. “I find this work incredibly meaningful because I am able to spread love and kindness every day,” she says with a warm smile.

Her job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, managing shop displays, processing sales transactions, and making celebratory and get-well gift bundles. With a kind heart and creative soul, she helps patrons passing through the gift shop find the perfect item to brighten someone’s day.

“I always push myself to think outside of the box to make people happy and bring patrons’ visions to life,” she says. A self-taught expert in paper creations, calligraphy, and customization, Ms. Laury has found ways to add her special touch to floral arrangements and gift basket orders alike.

Her favorite part of her job is seeing the joy on a customer’s face when the person receives a completed order. “I like to think we do our part to help in the healing process by providing a token of comfort to patients and their loved ones,” she says.

And so it comes as no surprise to learn that her most cherished memory is a time when she went above and beyond for a patient at Clements University Hospital. On a cold day, she took it upon herself to obtain new clothing and shoes for a patient to wear upon discharge.

She says working in a hospital requires great empathy and a desire to deliver compassionate care on all levels because some guests may be going through the hardest moments in their lives. “It’s important to provide all of our guests with top-notch customer service and be a listening ear when life is tough,” she says.

Outside of work, Ms. Laury likes to peruse antique shops and flea markets, always on the lookout for another vintage teddy bear for her beloved collection of about 40 bears, including a valuable Steiff teddy bear handmade in Germany.

Ms. Laury is most looking forward to life post-pandemic, when she is able to safely spend time with loved ones at in-person gatherings. Her family includes two sons, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.