COEUR d' ALENE, Idaho - Betty Jane Ely passed away on June 21, 2011, in Couer d' Alene, Idaho. She was born the second of three children of Albert A. and Jane Banks Ely on July 15, 1922. he was raised in Glasgow where her father owned and operated Ely Drugs. After graduating from high school, Betty Jane became a registered nurse and entered the Army Nurse Corps for three years, two of which were during World War II. After the war, she returned to college and obtained her baccalaureate degree from the University of Virginia in 1951. Following this accomplishment, she attended the University of Washington in Seattle and became one of the first nurses in the U.S. to receive a master's degree in nursing. She served as a faculty member at UW for approximately 10 years before returning to Kentucky to be closer to her mother. There she worked for the state as a psychiatric nursing consultant in community mental health centers developing a strong belief that mental illness is best treated at the community level. She then worked for many years at the state instution for mentally ill and made her home in Louisville. Betty Jane loved theater and had a special passion for the horse races. She is survived by six nieces and nephewsw: Al Ely (Debbie) of Bowling Green; Jan Nantz (Bob) of Richmond; Meg Reese (Bob); J. Roye Ely (Steve) of Couer d'Alene, Idaho, John Ely of Post Falls, Id; and Adrienne Ely (Davis) of Port Townsend, Wa. She also has six grand-nieces and nephews. Yates Funeral Home, 744 North 4th Street, Couer d'Alene, Idaho, is in charge of arrangements. Glasgow (KY) Daily Times, Wednesday, 31 Aug 2011, p. A3