Mrs. Betty Elizabeth Murph York, 87, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from her residence. A native of Woodleaf, N.C., she was born at home on June 18, 1937, to Fola Anderson Murph and Ruby Ellen Williams Murph. On April 4, 1958, she married the love of her life, Franklin Coyte York Jr., who cherished her for over 67 years and provided exceptional care for her during the last years of her life. Betty loved Franklin and the two happily built a life and a family together. Through all their years she enjoyed spending time with him whether working in the yard, gardening, going fishing, or taking the family on vacation. She was always faithful to love and support him.
Betty graduated from Woodleaf High School in 1955. She attended all grades in the same building, where she would later work for 22 years as an elementary teacher’s assistant, a job she considered to be the most rewarding of any she ever had. She desired for her “school children” to know they were loved. She often would recall names and share stories about them throughout her retirement, including memories of being a bus driver.
Betty was a lifelong member of South River Church, where she served faithfully in various roles while able. Over the years she served with the women’s group, taught Sunday School, helped with the youth, played in the handbell choir, and helped with many Christmas programs, VBS, and fundraisers. She also loved to sing, not only in the church choir, but she sang Gospel music — first with a group of cousins in her younger years and later with her daughters and two other special ladies in a group known as “The York Family.” She was expected annually by numerous community members to come by with a group of carolers at Christmas time. She also was taught by her father to play guitar, but only her family ever heard her play.
A mother of three, Betty fostered a loving Christian home and modeled the life of a Proverbs 31 woman that created a foundation for her family that would impact generations to come. She was faithful to pray for her family and others and taught her family what a life of trusting in Jesus looked like. While her girls were younger, she stayed at home with them and made most of their clothing as well as her own. She was a good cook and a great baker. Her baking skills were used to decorate many, many birthday and wedding cakes, as well as her famous sourdough bread that she gave out to relatives and neighbors. She was known to always be giving of herself in whatever way she could to help her family and her community.
After raising three daughters, her world was forever changed by five grandsons that she loved and spoiled from day one. She created many happy moments for them with her cooking, baking, sleepovers, trips to the beach, rides to get ice cream, or basically anything that she could turn into a joyful moment. Her grandmother love continued to multiply as those grandsons married and added great-grandchildren to the family. She will be deeply missed by all of them, but they are all comforted to know that she loved Jesus and is now safe and healthy with Him forever!
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Katrina Murph Matlock, and son-in-law, Charlie Gray Smith.
She is survived by her three daughters, Renita Smith, Marcia Reavis (Steve), and Gina Kyles (Curtis); five grandsons: Josh Smith (Katheryn), Sam Smith (Brianna), Casey Reavis (Amira), Nathan Kyles, and Coyte Kyles (Holly); and three — soon-to-be-four — great-grandchildren, Jessie Marie and Wyatt Smith, Oliver Reavis, and coming soon, Silo Gray Smith.
A celebration of life will be held at South River Church (2880 S. River Church Road, Woodleaf) at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, with Pastor Mike Sain and Mr. Tim Kelty officiating. The family will receive friends from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are Casey Reavis, Coyte Kyles, Jeff Matlock, David Lee Johnson, Tony Cartner and Adrian Reed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the West Rowan Bible Teaching Association, an organization that Betty loved and supported for many years. (WRBTA: PO Box 518 Woodleaf, NC 27054)
The family also wishes to thank her at-home caregivers for all the love and attention they gave to her the last year of her life and the staff of Trellis Support Services.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the care of Mrs. York and her family.