Betty Lou Dunn Phelps departed this life on April 6th from complications resulting from a brief illness. She was seventy-nine. Mrs. Phelps was a native of Gibsonville, NC. She proudly served her country in the Women's Army Corp for three years in Texas and Japan. While in Texas she married a fellow North Carolinian and serviceman, Jesse Phelps, on December 12, 1952 at Fort Hood. After many years as an army wife, she entered the field of nursing as an LPN and retired from University Hospital in Augusta, GA. A steadfast servant of the Lord, she was a faithful member of Fleming Christian Church and Cliffwood Presbyterian. She was a loving wife and mother, completely devoted to her family and an avid animal lover. Mrs. Phelps is survived by her daughters Jessica Phelps West of Decatur, GA, Melody Sue Rayl and husband David of Kokomo, IN, and her step-son Donald Lee Phelps and wife Bonnie of Palomar Mountain, CA. She will continue to live in the memory of her five grandchildren; Brandon Todd Phelps and wife Heidi, Nathan Adam Phelps, Ryan Lee Rayl and wife Elizabeth Ann, Jesse Aaron Rayl and Troy Taylor West. She is the great grandmother of Kiara Zipporah Lee, Judah Axton and Sunshine Juliet, the children of Brandon and Heidi Phelps. She is survived by her four sisters; her twin Mary Sue Miller, Elizabeth Walker, Patricia Forbragd, Jewel David and her brother James Dunn; along with her many dear nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of fifty-six years, Jesse, her parents William Taft and Estelle Loy Dunn and her son-inlaw Dennis West.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 pm at Phillippi Church of Christ in Creswell, NC. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Maitland Funeral Home of Creswell handled the arrangements. If desired, memorial contributions may be given to an animal rescue group of choice.
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