Betty Lou (Phelps) McElyea, age 72, of Arkadelphia, passed from this life on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at Twin Rivers Health and Rehabilitation Center in Arkadelphia. She was born on December 26, 1936 in Faber (Brown Springs), the daughter of the late Joseph and Nettie Sirratt Phelps. Betty was a 1956 graduate of Ouachita High School and a member of the Anchor Baptist Church. She was retired from the Arkadelphia Independent School District. Betty was preceded in death by four brothers, Floyd, Roy, John and Paul Phelps. She is survived by her husband, James McElyea, two daughters, Betsy Gail (Steve) Lott of Forney, TX and Rose Marie McElyea of Grapevine, TX, two sons, James Brett McElyea of Dothan, AL and Joel Kelly (Holly) McElyea of Bryant, three sisters, Bonnie Roberts of Arkadelphia, Ruby Callison of Magnolia and Mary Ferree of Joan, two brothers Jim (Sharon) Phelps of Brown Springs and Frank Wayne Phelps of Bastrup, LA, and five grandchildren, James Troy McElyea, Daniel Brett McElyea, Caleb Joel McElyea, Clay Matthew McElyea and Samantha Schauf. Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM on Monday, December 7, 2009 at Welch Funeral Home in Arkadelphia, with Bro. Paul Bass and Bro. James Calhoun officiating. Interment will be in Jones Cemetery at Brown Springs. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Sunday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Brett, Kelly, Jimmy and Daniel McElyea, Steve Iott and Larry Smallwood. Memorials may be made to Jones Cemetery Fund, c/o Mrs. John Abernathy, 2265 Mallet Rd, Malvern, AR 72104. Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the online guest book and view the video tribute.