Betty Jean Ellerd (Tulia)

Tulia, Texas—Betty Jean (Myers) Ellerd, 96, passed in peace and met her beloved Jesus face to face on June 18, 2022, in Canyon, Texas. A service celebrating her life will be held on Friday, June 24, 2022, at the First Baptist Church in Tulia, Texas with Bro. Charles Davenport, officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, June 23, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia.

Betty was a bright shining light that made your life a little bit better just by knowing her. She was born in Amarillo, Texas on March 29, 1926, to George Washington and Eva Mae Myers. She came from a large family and was the first of seven children. Although her family struggled financially, Betty learned at a young age the importance of working hard and saving money. That lesson stuck with her throughout her life. Betty was selfless and full of grace. As Mother and Gaga her devotion and unconditional love earned her a special place in the hearts of her family. She faithfully prayed daily, first for her family, then for all other matters God Laid on her heart.

Among the matters God laid on her heart was helping others! She was an RSVP volunteer for over 30 years, starting her volunteering career in 1989. She gave of her time to such places as AARP, Hospice, Swisher Library, Swisher Memorial Hospital, Swisher Count Museum, Tulia School District, and the list goes on! In addition to that Betty taught Acteens for 10 years, traveled to Brazil 4 times on Mission trips, was a sponsor for many other youth mission trips, completed 15 years with City Church Ministry for children, and served 14 years with the Exodus Prison Ministry where she served as a grader on the Bible Study Quizzes by the prisoners and did all the printing for the many forms needed for that ministry. In 2011 she researched and compiled the History of First Baptist Church Tulia with the help of volunteers. This compilation was printed and bound. When asked what her favorite thing was about volunteering, she said “The gratitude of helping other people. If nothing else, you can call and encourage people”.

Betty was born at 1614 Buchanan St. in Amarillo, Texas. When she was 6 months old Betty and her parents moved to a small 3 room house behind what they called the big house where her Grandpa and Grandma Myers lived. Her Grandpa had built the house when she was born, saying, “no grandchild of mine is going to move from pillar to post.”

Betty and her family soon outgrew that small house. After her grandparents moved back to their ranch in New Mexico, she and her family moved into the big house. This is where she stayed until she met her soul mate, Clarence LaVerne “Pinky” Ellerd. Pinky and Betty began their 57-year journey in life together on August 29, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas. To Betty’s surprise when she told her mother of the first house, they had found to live in, it turned out to be the exact same house Betty was born in on Buchanan St. They would spend the next 16 years in Amarillo raising their family in the way of the Lord. While in Amarillo, Betty and Pinky taught high school age children in Sunday School and were active in both GA’s and RA’s. In 1955 they decided to move their membership to a new church that had been formed close to them, Hillcrest Baptist Church. While at this church Betty was privileged to see all three of her children accept Jesus as their personal Savior and witness their baptism by the very pastor who had performed the marriage ceremony for her and Pinky, Bro. Dewey Horton.

In 1963 Betty and her family moved to Tulia, Texas. She immediately joined First Baptist Church continuing her involvement with teens through Sunday School, GA’s and Acteens. Betty and Pinky made numerous mission trips to Brazil and El Paso fulfilling her love of mission work.

Throughout her life, Betty demonstrated her ability and desire to “Talk the talk and walk the Walk!” When she was asked by the pastor of First Baptist Church Tulia, Bro. Charles Davenport, to help with the church library that had been closed for some time, her response was, “The first thing we need to do is open the doors!” Thus, beginning her journey as the church librarian. She worked as a librarian for more than 25 years and was often referred to as an expert! She said the Lord trained her to be a librarian!

In the true spirit of partnership Betty always did her part by not only fulfilling the duties of wife and mother but also working outside the home, when necessary, to be certain her family had what they needed. She held a variety of jobs throughout her life including movie theater cashier, selling life insurance at State Farm Insurance, bookkeeper at KFDA Radio/TV, secretary and assistant librarian at Palo Duro High School, bookkeeper at Curry Motor Freight and Barber Brothers, and librarian at Swisher County Memorial Library.

In 1982 Betty and Pinky joined the Mainland Advisory Council for the Hawaii Baptist Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii. This very quickly became a passion of Betty’s. When she attended her first annual meeting at HBA, while singing the Alma Mater, Betty said the Lord spoke to her, telling her to bring an eagle to the school. The school Alma Mater is Isaiah 40:31 and their mascot is an eagle. Betty’s father, being a taxidermist, was able to help her get on the right track to accomplish this mission. The process was long and tedious requiring her to write numerous letters and fill out endless forms. There were also many calls to be made, including one to the Governor of Texas. However, Betty’s perseverance, dedication and determination enabled her to present the school with a mounted Bald Eagle two years later. The student body named it Endurance and Betty continued to support Hawaii Baptist Academy both financially and in prayer for the rest of her life. In February 2019 Betty was honored by the school as being the only member to have four generations as members of the Mainland Advisory Council.

As betty left this earth, she carved her name on our hearts. Her legacy is etched into our minds and woven into the stories we share. She lives on in our memories and in our laughter. Her story is a life well lived!

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Pinky, her son, Ralph Berriman Ellerd and her parents.

Betty is survived by two daughters: Vernnetta Ellerd of Comanche, Texas and Belinda Giles of Plainview, Texas. Eight grandchildren, Janene Michael and her husband Eric, Teresa McCall and her husband Jerry, Stacy Ferguson and her husband Kent, Bobby Bailey and his wife Shana, Ryan Ellerd and his wife Janet, Monica Skierski, Jessica VanWhy and her husband Adam and Jennifer Summers and her husband Kyle. Six siblings: Homer Myers, Dorthey Myers, Donald Myers, Doris Ham, Georgia Hensley, and Gary Myers. Eighteen great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hawaii Baptist Academy, attention to the Office of Institutional Advancement, 420 Wyllie Street, Honolulu, HI 96817. Online memorials may be made securely at www.hba.net/giving. Please specify in the memo that the gift is in memory of Betty Ellerd.

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Online condolences may be made at www.kornerstonefunerals.com.