Georgia McElyea

With great sorrow, the McElyea and Drexler families announce the passing of our kind, brave, caring and unimaginably generous, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, and friend, Georgia (Evalee) P. McElyea. She passed at her daughters home, surround by her loving family and her even more loving pets. She was just shy of 98 years old.

Born January 26th, 1926 to Betty "Lou" and Joseph A. Parker., Georgia lived her hard working, but adventurous young life near Dexter, MO on the family farm, with her two younger siblings, Jim, and Babe (Ilene), along with many Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and friends nearby. It was on the farm that Georgia learned to cook, bake, and sew like a professional, standing beside her Mother at the wood fueled stove or sitting at the old sewing machine. If you ever had a cake, pie, or meal prepared by her, or saw her seamstress skills, you KNOW this is absolutely true! She hated doing the outside farm chores, so home-keeping became one of her many talents.

Georgia grew up during the Great Depression and WWII. She, like many other steadfast women of her time did her part to keep our Country going. While not "Rosie the Riveter," she was, Georgia the Cable Welder, welding steel cables together for a nearby factory. This "can do, Well, I can do that" attitude stayed with her throughout her long life (she was still crawling up on her Albuquerque roof to hook up the swamp cooler at 88 years old!)

That spirit and need to accomplish, lead her to Southeast Missouri State University. There, she earned a Baccalaureate degree in Education and met a VERY handsome young man, who was looking for bunnies under a bush on campus. She married that handsome young devil, Gene W. McElyea, and taught school, first in a one room schoolhouse, while they embarked on their lives together. She became the major bread winner while Gene earned his Masters degree at Tulane. He then soon became a Commissioned Officer with the United States Public Health Service, and Georgia? Well, the perfect polished Officer's Wife.

In 1955 they started their family with the birth of their first daughter Connie Jean. Later, in 1964 their second daughter was born, Betti Jo. Two years later the family moved to Albuquerque NM, where they would spend the rest of their days together. During their life in Albuquerque, Georgia raised her family, kept an immaculate home, and loved her husband like no other. She was involved in her Church, teaching Sunday School for many, many years. Georgia engaged in whatever her family was doing. She and Gene were parents who never missed a performance or track meet. She was one of the first Presidents of the Eldorado Band Boosters and "raised" a young Girl Scout Troop from Elementary School Brownies all the way to High School 1st Class Girls Scouts (the first troop to reach that accolade in the State of NM). Needless to say, Georgia didn't have just two children, but was "Mom" to a whole lot more.

She decided at some point, in the 1970's to work a "Christmas job" at JC Penny's, which, turned into a full time, over 20-year job, that she loved. She lost Gene in 1985, but kept up her working pace, vigor, and "I'm not gonna quit attitude". She retired from Penny's when the first true love of her life was born in 1998, Parker. She lost her heart once more with the birth of her second Grandson in 2000, Noah.

If you knew Georgia, you know she loved her girls, but she ADORED her Grandson's. They were "her" boys and she wasn't afraid to let anyone know that. She simply, was the best G. G. Ma ever. Again, never missing a band event, Boy Scout event, or athletic competition. The boys loved her back even more, and were at her side until the very end.

Georgia is survived by her daughter's; Connie McElyea and Betti Jo McElyea Drexler; Son in Love, Andrew Drexler, Nephew; Thomas McElyea, Nieces; Bonnie Clugston, Donna Padavano, and Twanda Moore. Grandson's; Parker Andrew Drexler and Noah Gene Drexler, and Granddaughters in love; Amorette Drexler Chavez and Desiree Drexler Tanner.

Georgia's Service will be held at French Funeral and Cremations, 7121 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.

Visitation will be from 5pm-7pm on Wednesday, January 24.

Chapel Service will be the following morning, January 25th at 10:00 am with graveside service immediately following at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107.

Reception at the home of Andrew and BJ Drexler 2:00 pm.