Betty Gadberry Elder

Betty Gadberry Elder, 87, of North Little Rock, died Tuesday, August 27, 2013, at UAMS after a series of illnesses, which she bore with her usual grace and courage. Betty was born in Enola (Faulkner County) on January 13, 1926, and was the last survivor of Jesse Frank and Alice Anthony Gadberry's 12 children. Her husband and best friend of 49 years, Jim Elder, preceded her in death, as did brothers Grady, Brady, Dee, Ansel, and Lowell Gadberry; sisters Icie White, Mattie Garner, LaRue Blair, Radine Shock, Estella Shaw, and Wanda Gadberry; and niece Geraldine Boultinghouse. She is survived by her loving daughter, Susan Elder of Little Rock; 16 nieces and nephews: Bobbie Brannon, Tom Gadberry (Anna), Vauda Wilson (Glen), Bill White (Judy), Jim Gadberry (Charlotte), Sam Blair, Mary Ann Sixta (Dave), Sandra Aleshire (George), Martha Gadberry (John), Anthony Gadberry (Jerri Lynn), Lowell Gadberry Jr (Susan), Brady Gadberry Jr.(Sarah), Jay Shock (Myra), Mary Shock, Frank Shaw (Paige), and Jack Shock; and sister-in-law Geraldine Gadberry. Betty worked at Camp Robinson during the last year of World War II, then at Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio. She moved back to Arkansas in 1949 to work at Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, where she met and married Jim Elder, an umpire in the Cotton States League.  They lived in Hot Springs after their wedding, then briefly in Miami before returning to Arkansas. A stint at the VA Hospital in Little Rock for Betty followed, and she ended her career at the Social Security Administration's Bureau of Hearings and Appeals. Betty loved her family, friends, and church, Somers Avenue Church of Christ.  She was known for her dry wit and no-weep meringue pies, and was actively making new friends well into her eighties. She was an ardent Democrat. Visitation for family and friends will be Thursday, August 29, 5-7 p.m., at Roller-Owens Funeral Home on JFK Blvd in North Little Rock. Services will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Roller-Owens, followed by interment at Crestlawn Cemetery near Conway. The family is grateful to the doctors and staff of UAMS for their skilled care and many kindnesses. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jim Elder Good Sport Fund, Box 444, Little Rock AR 72203, or to a favorite charity. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/owens.