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Mathis. Ethel was the 3rd of 5 children. Since she was born on Armistice Day, her dad is reported to have said that she ended World War I.
Ethel's mother taught her to sew, and instilled in her a heart for serving others, something that she lived out the rest of her life. While just a young girl, Ethel mademany clothes for the poor children in her town, even though she herself was notraised with a lot of money. As a child, she attended church with her family andthere she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.
After High School, an uncle paid her way to attend nursing school in Pensacola, Florida. Following graduation, she moved to California with an uncle and an aunt, and helped take care of their children while working for a doctor. Ethel's two brothers and anuncle were in the Navy so it wasn't long until she joined the Navy as well.
A heart murmur disqualified her for overseas duty, so Ethel was given the opportunity to serve her country as a Navy Nurse at the Pensacola Naval Hospital.There she attended Pensacola Baptist Church and a Bible Study on the base with many of her friends, including an enlisted member of the Navy, Dean Butler. In December 1945, Dean and Ethel were providentially cast as the "best man" and "maidof honor" for one of Ethel's best friends, and following that wedding, began their own courtship. Dean and Ethel were honorably discharged from the Navy the spring of 1946, and were married on August 2.
After the wedding, they movedto Tulsa, Oklahoma where Dean attended Spartan Aeronautics School for his airplane mechanics license, and Ethel began a career as a private duty nurse. Their first son, John Michael was born June 8, 1947. After Dean's graduation, they moved to Fort Worth, Texas where Ethel worked at Harris Hospital and Dean helped build the B36 bombers.
During this time Ethel's mother came for an extendedvisit from Florida, but was hospitalized at Harris Hospital after suffering a major stroke. Ethel attended her mother as a nurse during many of her shifts untilher mom passed away three months later.
Dean and Ethel had their heartsset on joining Missionary Aviation Fellowship as missionaries, but needed a degree from a Bible college. So they moved to Dallas in 1952 to attend Dallas BibleInstitute. While attending school, Ethel practiced nursing at Baylor Hospital and Dean worked at the John E. Mitchell Company.
By now, John was in kindergarten and had his class praying for a little brother and sister for him. On October 2, 1954 Dean and Ethel's second son, Timothy Paul was born and a year later, on October 13, 1955 Sarah Catherine completed their young family. Because of the demands of a growing family, Dean was unable to maintain his pilot's certification, and as a result, their pursuit of full-time missionary work with MAF cameto an end. But not their passion for missionary service.
In 1956, Dean and Ethel bought a house in Farmers Branch, Texas and began attending Grace Chapel, which a few years later, became Farmers Branch Bible Church, and years later,Metrocrest Bible Church. They faithfully attended Metrocrest until their move to Wichita, Kansas in October of 2012.
Ethel continued her career as a nurse and worked as the head nurse on the OB/GYN floor at Parkland Memorial Hospital for 17 years. She then worked part time at St. Paul Hospital until her retirement in 1993 at the age of 75, always giving her patients the best care and compassion possible.
Even though Ethel worked many hours, her home was alwaysopen to missionaries, Bible College and seminary students, and young people fromthe church. She loved to cook and on her Sundays off she invited missionaries and seminary students for dinner while Dean would often repair their vehicles. Ethel loved to cook, bake, sew and help others in any way she could. Many have been blessed by her handiwork.
Ethel leaves behind a grateful and grieving family including her husband Dean, her son John and his wife, Sandra; her son Timand his wife Joy; and her daughter Cathy and her husband Ken Cooper. Family members also include 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitationwill be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Restland Funeral Home.
Memorial service will be held Friday, January 25, 2013 at 11:00AM at Metrocrest Bible Church, 12104 Josey Lane Farmers Branch, Texas 75234.
Seán
Sloane Johnson
