Betty Jean Eldrige, passed away at the Washington Odd Fellows Nursing Home in Walla Walla, on Tuesday morning, Feb. 11, at the age of 87.
Betty was born on February 22, 1926 in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. As a young girl, she and her family, the Jacksons, sisters Francis, Rose and Jo Anne; brothers John T, Nelson (Wally), and Dick; moved to Oregon’s Willamette Valley then on to Hermiston in Eastern Oregon. While In Hermiston, Betty met Merle S. Eldrige; they were married in 1943 after Merle graduated from high school and was drafted by the Army. Betty and Merle were married for 58 years, until Merle’s death in 2002.
Betty was a woman of great faith, from early childhood until her passing. She extended God’s love to all that she encountered and had a heart for sharing the Gospel, especially with children. Her beautiful singing voice was often heard as she led the congregation in special worship numbers at church or as she taught songs to her Sunday school class. Among her many trademark talents, Betty was an accomplished seamstress, an excellent cook and cake decorator extraordinaire (birthday cakes to wedding cakes). She was “small but mighty” and was a charismatic figure in pursuing things that were important to her and to those she loved.
Betty suffered a stroke in 2008 that, among other things, left her confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak. In spite of her physical limitations, Betty’s faith and reliance on God’s grace, coupled with the excellent care she received from Odd Fellows Nursing Home staff, allowed her to live with dignity and she continued to inspire those she was with by her engaging smile and welcoming demeanor. Betty communicated volumes with a look and wave of her hand!
Betty is survived by three of her four children: Steve and wife Kathy (Hermiston, OR), Mike and wife Vickie (Umatilla, OR), Rich and wife Terri (Bend, OR) and by eleven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Other surviving family members include: Sisters – Rose Smith and Joan (Don) Wells; Brothers – John T (Rosalie) Jackson, and Richard (Lolahroch) Jackson, and numerous nieces and nephews. Her parents, her husband Merle and daughter Linda, sister Frances Tenny and brother Walter Nelson Jackson preceded Betty in death.
We will miss her deeply but take comfort in the knowledge that she is now in the arms of her Lord Jesus Christ.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 15, at the Hermiston Assembly of God Church, with graveside services following in the Hermiston Cemetery
Please sign the condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
