Betty "Jean" McElhaney

June 7, 1929 to May 20, 2020

The family of Betty “Jean” (Roehr) McElhaney wishes to announce her passing on May 20, 2020 from Alzheimer’s. At the time of her passing Jean was in residence at Presbyterian Manor Long Term Care and was comforted by several of her children. Born to Alfred A. Roehr and Nellie R. (Koeppen) Roehr on June 7, 1929 in Coldwater, Kansas, Jean McElhaney is preceded in death by her parents Alfred and Nellie Roehr; her husband of 54 years, Lindsey Dean McElhaney; sisters Beverly Iness and Mary Green; sister-in-law Kathleen Fraizer; and daughter-in-law Debra Jo McElhaney. Married to Lindsey Dean McElhaney (deceased) in 1950, together they raised six children: Kimberly Jean McElhaney, Lindsey Price McElhaney (Connie), Kathleen Carol Hollatz (Dennis), Bradley Warren McElhaney (Joyce), Gregory Dean McElhaney (Debra Jo, deceased), and Mari Elizabeth McElhaney. Jean also nurtured four grandchildren, Leischia and Buck McElhaney, Justin Hollatz and Dustin McElhaney (Dana), as well as six great grandchildren..

Jean McElhaney took great pride in her nursing profession. Graduating from Wesley School of Nursing in 1950, Jean’s career at Wesley included Charge Nurse for the Psychiatric Unit; Relief Charge Nurse/Medication Nurse for the Intensive/Coronary Care Unit; Premature Nursery; Assistant Head Nurse for the IV team; and Instructor/Coordinator for Education Services. Jean received recognition from many nursing organizations, and was well-known for being a two-term President of the District VI Kansas Nurses’ Association from 1984 through 1986. Jean completed her tenure at Wesley Medical Center as an Instructor for the Wesley School of Nursing.

In 1984, following her career at Wesley, Jean began working for the American Red Cross. Her duties included Ambulatory/Home Health Educator Consultant; Allied Health Educator/Consultant-Pharmacy and Medical Records; Staff Nurse for Blood Services Nursing, Midway Kansas Chapter; and Assistant Director of Nursing and Health Services, Midway-Kansas Chapter.

From October 1989 to May 1994 Jean McElhaney worked as Director of the Guadalupe Clinic. Upon her retirement in 1994, Jean continued to volunteer for the clinic for many years.

Jean’s final “job” was becoming a Master Gardener Emeritus with the Sedgwick County Extension Center. She took a volunteer role in creating the Wesley Nursing Memorial Courtyard at Wesley Medical Center. The pathway in this garden contains a brick from the original School of Nursing building and is engraved for each graduate of the school. You will find Jean’s brick in the graduating year 1950. Jean and her husband also spent many hours at their home on the lake creating a beautiful garden oasis for their family and friends.

To our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, your legacy of nurturing and giving to others is carried deep in our hearts and will continue through all of us. Take wing with the doves mom, it is your time to fly free.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given in Jean's memory to the Guadalupe Clinic,940 St. Francis, Wichita, KS 67211.