FORT SMITH — Betty Alice Yelvington

passed away on June 25, 2022, at the age of 86. She was born February 11, 1936, in Perry, Ark. Betty was a Christian of the Baptist faith. Betty was best known for her cooking and baking skills she cultivated while working at a bakery shortly after graduating from high school. In 1956, she married the late Raymond Yelvington, and the two set off to California for a bit of adventure and the promise of opportunity. In the years they spent in California, Betty and Raymond had three children.

She worked in the cafeteria of Scripps College, helping college students get through the day with her excellent cooking. Betty and Raymond returned to Arkansas in the 1970s to be closer to family. She became a lunch lady at Scott Elementary School, where she spent 24 years spoiling students with homemade yeast rolls and answering whatever questions they had, including helping a young student who went on to become a pastor learn about God and invite Jesus Christ into his heart.

She was honored as the Pulaski County Special School District Cook of the Year for 1993-1994. Betty valued education and modeled her love of reading to her family by spending time with her favorite romance novels, in addition to reading to her children and grandchildren whenever they asked. She believed a person could do whatever they set their mind to and was immensely proud of her children for following their dreams wherever they led.

She is survived by son, Tony Yelvington and wife Anne Yelvington of Arlington, Texas; son, Glenn Yelvington of Dallas, Texas, and daughter Brenda Yelvington and husband Lavon Morton of Fort Smith, Ark. Grandchildren are Alexis Yelvington of Arlington, Texas, Sydney Yelvington of Arlington, Texas, and Kameron Morton of New York City; along with siblings Jimmy Conrad and wife Joyce and Louise Chapman and husband Otis and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, William Henry and Effie Lorraine Blair Conrad; and siblings Reed, Jack, and Ray Conrad and sisters, Alline Blanton, Marie Beamer, and Melba Rankin.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. June 30, at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, Ark. Graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 1, at McGhee Cemetery in Perry, Ark. To view the online guestbook, please go to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com