Nancy Elizabeth “Betty” Toole Ely

- Ely, Nancy Elizabeth “Betty” Toole, age 93, of Knoxville, TN, departed this life on April 9, 2024. Betty was a graduate of Bearden High School, where she played basketball. Before she married, she attended the University of Tennessee and worked in the pharmacy at UT Hospital. She went on to raise a family and later worked for Medic Regional Blood Center, which is where she retired from.

Betty was a long standing and faithful member of the Zion United Methodist Church (now known as Zion Cornerstone Church). Betty adored her family above all else. She also loved animals, especially dogs, and she enjoyed antiquing and gospel music. Betty was a generous, loyal, and kind person who will be truly missed by those who knew her. Betty was preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert M. “Bob” Ely, her parents, Robert R. and Helen Rudder Toole, her brother Robert W. “Bobby” Toole, her nephew, Michael Costa, and her niece Leslie Duncan.

She is survived by her son, Arthur C. “AC” Ely II (Janice), her granddaughters, Gretchen Ely (Jeff Dabbelt) and Kristin Ely (Kelly Proffitt), her great grandchildren Ariel Ely, Alan Dabbelt and Brian Dabbelt, her great-great grandchildren Chance and Parker Fischetti, her sister, Frances Loughran, and many other family members and special friends. The family also wishes to acknowledge Betty’s caregiver, Rebecca Walker, who provided loving companionship to her in the last decade of her life. Receiving of friends will take place on Saturday, April 13 from 2-3:30 pm at Rose Funeral & Cremation - Mann in Bearden followed by a private graveside service for family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Betty’s memory be made to the Young Williams Animal Center, 3201 Division St. Knoxville, TN 37919 https://www.young-williams.org/ support/one-time/

Online condolences may be expressed at www. rosefuneraltn.com