Sylvia McElvain

FORT WORTH - Sylvia Genelle McElvain, 74, went to be with her heavenly Father on Sunday, July 17, 2011, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Sylvia was a wonderful wife, mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her faith in Jesus Christ enabled her to live a life of courage even in the face of Alzheimer's Disease. "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God" was a quote from Corrie Ten Boom which she claimed as her own from the day her diagnoses was made. The following poem also describes how her family thought of her: "God saw you getting tired, And a cure was not to be. So He put his arms around You and whispered, 'Come with Me'. With tearful eyes we watched You slowly Fade away. Although we loved you Dearly, We would not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, Your hard-working hands put to rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best." Sylvia faithfully served at Covenant Life Baptist Church in Kennedale as a long time member. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Survivors include her sons: Rick McElvain and wife Tammy; Ted McElvain and wife Kathy; daughters: Susan Canright and husband Dell; Sharilyn Griffin and husband Arnold; grandchildren: Andrew, Ryan (and wife Kristin), Justin, Buck, Jacob, Kyle and Julie McElvain; Mindy, Brady and Marissa Canright; Cortney, Britney, Tanner, and Chase Sellers; Valerie Nettles (and husband Zachary); Samantha, Makayla, and Arnie Griffin; great grandchildren: Addisyn and Kason McElvain; Trinity and Grace Nettles; brothers: Charles Black (and wife Lois) and Joe Black (and wife Vicki); sister: Kay Brantley, and sister-in-law Alice Reese. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, Grover McElvain, parents Thomas and Lena, brother Thomas Reese Jr., and daughter Sheryl Ann McElvain. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in her honor to "faithcomesbyhearing.com/military" or 1-800-800-2555, an organization dedicated to supplying Bibles to our military personnel. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Sylvia McElvain please visit our Sympathy Store.