Myra Elizabeth "Bethie" (Thomas) Elston Morris

Myra Elizabeth “Bethie” Thomas Elston Morris, a native of Elmira, NY and resident of Lowman, NY passed away on February 27, 2025. She was 91 years old.

Myra was the eldest child of the late Harold and Myra (Bennett) Thomas. She finished eighth grade at Hendy Avenue School in Elmira, and graduated high school at Elmira Free Academy in 1951. She went on to graduate from the Arnot School of Nursing with the class of 1954.

“Bethie” joined the Order of the Eastern Star Excelsior Southern Light Chapter in Breesport, NY at the age of 18. She was also a member of the North Chemung United Methodist Church, and was a youth leader there in the 1970s.

Myra worked 41 years at the Arnot Ogden Hospital. During her career she was the Head nurse of the Pediatrics and GYN Unit. She finished her career in the Arnot Ogden NICU, which she particularly enjoyed.

Her interests centered around her home and family. She was an avid counted cross stitcher and knitter, which many family and friends enjoyed. She loved baking for family and for church dinners. She enjoyed working in her many flower beds and keeping up her home. Reading the bible, and completed many bible studies were important to her. She enjoyed traveling, cruises, nature and the solitude of her lake home. But most importantly, her family was always her priority and central to her life.

She married Charles Elston in 1957, and together they had three children – Stephanie, Craig who passed away in 1967, and Lisa. In 1992 she went on to marry Richard Morris, who passed away in 2002.

In addition to her parents and husband, Myra was preceded in death by: her son Craig Allen Elston; son-in-law Eric Lawrenz; grandson Joshua David Moore; brother Allen LeRoy Thomas; niece Erica Lavery; and dear friend Loueva Edwards.

She is survived by: her daughters – Stephanie (Joel) Elston-Moore, and Lisa Lawrenz; grandchildren – Sara (Robert), Rachel, Jamie, Rebekah (Nathan), Amy (Jonathan), Kyle, Meghan (Braden), Hannah, Mikayla, and Amanda; great-grandchildren – McKenzie, Amara, Nathaniel, Joshua, Timothy, Jeffrey, Levi, Olivia, Anna, Layla, Calyssa, Caden, Isaiah, Anastasia, Oliver, Jack and Adeline; sister RoyAnn Rogerson; brother and sister-in-law; Bruce and Diane Elston; cousin Virginia Connelly, nephew; Robert Coffman, niece Janette Pfisterer and many cousins; her canine friends Baby Girl, Duke and feline friend Bob; and special friends and helpers Darryl and MaeLynn Gunderman and Bob and Karen Hannon.

Family and friends are invited to Olthof Funeral Home, 1050 Pennsylvania Avenue in Elmira, NY for calling hours on Monday, March 10, 2025 from 11:00 AM until 12:30 PM, and to her funeral service which will follow at 12:30, after a Nurses Honor Guard presentation. Burial will follow immediately at Rural Home Cemetery in Big Flats, NY.

The family sends a special thank you to the Care First Hospice team and her Physician Assistant Hanna Foster, for their extraordinary care.