Betty Lou Mendenall McPherson of Yorktown, born 1932 in Ringling, Okla., died peacefully with family at her side after a brief illness, on June 4, 2015 at Riverside Regional Medical Center.

She worked at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City, where she met and married her military husband. They traveled to many bases in the USA, then to the Far East. This marriage ended after moving to Langley AFB in Virginia. Betty built and operated the Bethel Manor Dairy Queen off Route 134, York County. She operated this business for 35 years and had a truly unique passion for teaching and mentoring the young people she hired to work with her. With the help of her three children she opened a Dairy Queen at Buckroe Beach, Hampton, in 1969 and one on Water Street, Yorktown, in 1980.

Betty married John McPherson of Yorktown and together they traveled to many foreign countries and places in the United States and she spent a month in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. 

Betty was a past board member of the Yorktown Day Association for many years, APVA and American Friends of Lafayette for more than 40 years. She was a longtime member of Grace Episcopal Church, and lived in the historical village of Yorktown for 40 years.

Betty was preceded in death by her father, Otis Mendenall; mother, Audrey Mendenall; brother, Ray Mendenall; two infant sons, Michael and Kendall Creech, and first husband and father of their children, Jesse Creech.

She is survived by son, David Creech of Virginia Beach, Va.; daughters, Lea Ann Gryk of Yorktown Village, Va., and Jeanne Haywood (Willie) of Gloucester Point, Va.; sister, Bea Kerfoot-Roark of Clinton, Okla.; granddaughters, Julie Markoski, Wendy Creech, Marcie Willis and Cassie Haywood; grandson, Garrett Haywood; great-grandchildren, Aidan Willis, James, Tyler and Audrey Markoski, and former husband and friend, John McPherson.

Funeral service conducted by the Rev. Carleton Bakkum was held at 12 noon on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at Grace Episcopal Church, Yorktown. Interment followed in the church cemetery. The family received friends Tuesday, June 9, 2015, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point.

In memory of Betty, gifts may be sent to Grace Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 123, Yorktown, Va. 23690.

Family and friends may share condolences and memories at www.hoggfh.com.