Elizabeth J. "Betse" McElhattan Modesette, 51, of San Antonio, Texas, formerly of Butler, died unexpectedly of natural causes Thursday morning in the emergency room of Main Methodist Hospital in San Antonio.

Elizabeth was born in Ashtabula, Ohio on Sept. 6, 1958. She was the daughter of Joe F. and Barbara C. McElhattan of Emlenton.

She was a 1976 graduate of Butler High School and graduated in 1979 from Southwest Texas University with a degree in elementary education.

In 1987, Elizabeth was selected by her students at Westwood Terrace Elementary School as a "favorite teacher," and she was honored that year in "Who's Who Among American Teachers."

She was a Protestant and attended a United Methodist Church in San Antonio.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Mike Modesette, of San Antonio; a brother, Fred McElhattan and his wife Kim, of Vista, Calif.; and a niece and a nephew, Shelby and Joey McElhattan, also of Vista, Calif. In addition, a number of aunts, uncles, and cousins survive.

Elizabeth was preceded by her maternal grandparents, Fred and Jerry Crawford and her paternal grandparents, Ward and Beulah McElhattan.

<B>MODESETTE</B> — Friends of Elizabeth J. "Betse" McElhattan, who died Thursday, April, 8, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>Hile Funeral Home</B>, 1204 Kerr Ave., Emlenton. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Lori Danielson, pastor of the Emlenton Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment will be in the Crawford Memorial Cemetery, Emlenton.Memorial contributions may be made to the Emlenton Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 371, Emlenton, PA 16373.For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com