Asheboro native Betty Lou (Johnson) Elfelt, 75, passed away on November 24, 2020 in Amarillo, TX. She was born February 15, 1945, the daughter of Nyal A. Johnson and Elsie (Willis) Johnson. After graduating from Asheboro High School in 1963, she completed nursing training at the Hamlet Hospital School of Nursing and joined the US Navy Nurse Corps in 1968.
While stationed in Charleston, SC, in 1975, she met James M. Elfelt, a naval officer assigned to an attack submarine homeported there. They were married in the Charleston Naval Station Chapel on June 26, 1976. Betty remained on active duty for another year and then resigned to become a full-time Navy wife and mother.
Jim's extended absences on sea duty required her to single-handedly manage all the family's affairs, including building a new house, then selling it, delivering two of their three children, and raising a wonderful family, all while he was away more than half the time. Eventually, Betty and her growing family would move to Columbus, OH, back to Charleston, and then to Norfolk, VA, before settling in Amarillo, TX.
Betty was born to be a nurturer, and she excelled in every aspect of being a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend, and a granny—especially granny. No grandchildren were ever loved and cherished more deeply than her six angels.
She leaves to mourn her husband of 44 years, James Elfelt of Amarillo, TX, and their three children: John (Elizabeth) Elfelt of Fort Worth, TX, Elizabeth (Kirk) Martin of Lubbock, TX, and Margaret (Robbie) Byrd of Amarillo, TX, as well as five grandchildren: Elsie, Jake, Zachary, James, and Lou. She is also survived by her brothers John L. Johnson of Clifton, VA, and N. Willis Johnson of Irmo, SC, by several nieces and nephews, and by her best-friend-ever, Meg Garrett of Laurel, MD. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her older sister, Elizabeth Ann Johnson, and an infant grandson, Elliott.
Betty's charitable spirit could not bear the thought of anyone ever going hungry, particularly children. Anyone desiring to honor her lifetime of helping others might consider making a memorial donation to the Christians United Outreach Center Food Pantry, PO Box 784, Asheboro, NC 27204.
Due to the pandemic, a funeral for members of Betty's immediate family was previously conducted in Amarillo. She will be laid to rest in the in the Johnson family plot in the Asheboro Old City Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 4, with a joyful celebration of her life afterwards.