Ethel B Westmark (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Ethel Bailey Westmark was born in Houston, Arkansas, October 17, 1925 to Claude and Anna Holman on their 25th wedding anniversary. Ethel was the youngest of eleven children. She attended college at Olivet Nazarene College (now University) in Illinois, where she met and married Ray Westmark, of Minnetonka, Minnesota. Ray was a Nazarene pastor, and the two of them began their first pastorate in Lamberton, Minnesota. From there they started a church in Little Falls, Minnesota and a country church called Lake Beauty. While in Little Falls, Ray and Ethel had their first child, Jeanette, who was born in the middle of revival meetings. Ethel played the piano for the first few services, delivered Jan, and was back to the revival to play for the closing service.
Moving to Kansas City, Ray attended Nazarene Theological Seminary, with Ethel’s brother, James. Ethel typed Ray’s essay papers and thesis and also worked in the Church Schools Department at Nazarene Headquarters. Even before graduating, Ray and Ethel were called to Monnett, Missouri to pastor. While in Monnet, their second child, David was born.
From Monnett, they moved to Valley City, North Dakota where son, Timothy was born. During a 20 degree below zero night, the chimney froze and all the fumes seeped back into their apartment. Ethel awoke to a splitting headache and saved her family from narrowly escaping death. Fourth child, Carolyn, arrived nine months after district assembly while they were living in Minto, North Dakota, helping friends plant a church. Other churches they pastored included Gooding, Idaho and Enterprise, Oregon. Moving to LaGrande, Oregon, to be closer to the hospital, Ray died of Hodgkins, leaving Ethel with four children, oldest Jan, now a senior in high school and Ethel a senior in college graduating with her teaching degree. Ethel was offered a position of teaching music in Baker (now Baker City), Oregon and moved the family there.
Ethel accepted the position as Kindergarten Editor at Nazarene World Headquarters back in Kansas City and served there for 9 years, and married Harrison Bailey on August 25, 1973. From there they moved to Clovis, New Mexico where Ethel taught in an elementary school. They then moved to Hereford, Texas, where she started elementary school. Upon retirement, Ethel and Harrison bought property next to her sister Mattie Sue’s, acreage in Fisk, Missouri, and later Poplar Bluff. Ethel served as a caregiver for her sister Sue, and husband Harrison. Prior to Harrison’s death back in Kansas City, Ethel served as a greeter at Walmart and then Activities Director at Harrison’s nursing home. After Harrison’s death, she moved to Bolivar, Missouri where she gave piano lessons and served the Bolivar Church of the Nazarene until her death, July 30, 2011.
Ethel is survived by her brother James Holman of Clyde, Texas. Children, Jeanette & John Westmark Kennington of Monterrey, Mexico; David & LloyDene Westmark of Tillamook, Oregon; Timothy & Shirley Westmark of Bolivar, Missouri; Carolyn Baldassare of Loveland, Colorado, grandchildren Joel, Kelli, Keri, Christy, Adam, Brandon, J.D., Joana, Aaron, Zack, and Tyson and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held, Sunday, September 11, 2011, 2:00 pm at the Bolivar Church of the Nazarene in Missouri. Arrangements are under the under the care and direction of the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar, Missouri. A private inurnment will be held on a later date in LeGrande,Oregon.
Contributions in Ethel’s honor can be made to Mission to Mexico 909 NE 30th Street Portland, Oregon 97232.
Friends and Family may sign the guestbook or leave private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com
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