Sarah Ellen Bethel

November 26, 1927 - September 10, 2018

Sarah Ellen Bethel, age 90, of Marion, IL passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at 1:40 p.m. on Monday, September 10, 2018, at Parkway Manor of Marion. She was born on November 26, 1927, in Union County, New Mexico the 7th of 9 children to William Truman and Della (Melton) Bowling. Her parents moved to New Mexico not long after New Mexico was admitted to statehood. During Sarah’s childhood she had many pioneer experiences and still used a cedar chest and wall mirror she had made in high school. She attended school in Clayton, New Mexico and was a graduate of Clayton High School. During high school she kept books for an electric company in Clayton, NM and saved to pay for nurse’s training. She continued her education, graduating from Mather School of Nursing at Southern Baptist Hospital and Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. After she became a Registered Nurse she became licensed in Louisiana, Illinois, and Texas. She first started working at Holden Hospital in Carbondale, IL and later at Herrin Hospital in Herrin, IL. When Marion Memorial Hospital opened she worked there until moving to Texas. While living in Texas, she worked as a school nurse at Wayland Baptist College and later as a recovery room nurse at Harris Hospital in Fort Worth, TX. Later she returned to Marion and worked as Director of Nursing at Doctor’s Hospital of Carbondale for several years until she changed jobs and returned to Marion Memorial Hospital until her retirement on December 31, 1989. Sarah was united in marriage to Donald Houston Bethel on October 7, 1948, in Valance Street Baptist Church of New Orleans, LA, and together they shared nearly 62 years of marriage until his death on Monday, February 1, 2010. Always active in the churches her husband pastored, Sarah was a member of Hafer Baptist, Springhill Baptist, Cana Baptist, Lake Creek Baptist and Williams Prairie Baptist all in Southern Illinois. She currently was a member of First Baptist Church of Marion since 1988. She has served in many positions at the church including; Sunday school teacher and secretary, chair of the pastor selection committee, former member of the Joy Singers Gospel Choir, and also took blood pressure for the senior adults. She and her husband have also gone on three trips for medical missions to Guatemala and Venezuela. Sarah was instrumental in founding the Hands of Hope Family Clinic of Marion and served as a board member and volunteer. She also volunteered at Heartland Regional Medical Center of Marion, helping with education. In 1997, both Don and Sarah received the “Community Service Recognition Award” from Modern Woodmen of America. Sarah was selected as “Citizen of the Year” in 2001 by the Marion Chamber of Commerce and both Don and Sarah received the “Lifetime Award for Volunteer Service” in 2004 as a couple from Heartland Regional Medical Center of Marion. She also received the “Home Town Hero Award” from Modern Woodmen in 2006 and the “Rosemary Berkel Crisp Award” from the Southern Illinois Women’s Health Conference in September of 2009. In her spare time she liked to sew and made many clothes for her family. She enjoyed mending clothes and often joked that, “no one loved her if her mending basket was empty.” She also enjoyed cutting her family and neighbors’ hair. Sarah loved people and volunteered at the Ministerial Alliance Food Kitchen. A special joy for her was teaching conversational English to international students at Southern Illinois University for Baptist Student Services. For many years she led tours of Marion Memorial Hospital and later Heartland Regional Medical Center for preschoolers, scouts, daycares, and others to alleviate the fear of hospitals and let them know that they had a friend there. Sarah and her husband liked to travel and had visited most of the United States, Europe, Canada, and Mexico. She also enjoyed doing crafts. In 1968, Judge Ray Cagle asked Sarah and Don to take a teenage boy into their home. This led to the home becoming licensed as a foster home for several years. Her pride and greatest accomplishment was her children and grandchildren. She treasured her time spent with all of them. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn Jo “Jodi” and Dennis Speer of Clarksville, TN; four sons and daughters-in-law, William Jewel “Bill” and Leah Bethel of Whitesboro, TX, Lester James and Kathy Bethel of Marion, James Henry Wright and his wife Catherine of Energy, IL, and David John and Carol J. Bethel of Avon, IN; sixteen grandchildren, Molli Joy O’Leary of Clarksville, TN, Jared Speer and his wife Amber of Greenwood, IN, Ashleigh Whitecotton and her husband Robert of Arlington, TN, Jewel West and her husband Brandon of Caddo Mills, TX, Erik John Bethel and his wife Valerie of Marion, William Donald Bethel and his wife Christina of Carterville, IL, Amanda Lynn Whaley and her husband Calvin of Normal, IL, Stephanie Ann Bethel of Marion, Andrew Justin Bethel and his wife Ericka of Plainfield, IN, Megan Jenesis Flajs and her husband Zachary of Avon, IN, Noah Japeth Bethel and his wife Nikki of Marion, Lucas Jonah Bethel and his wife Jaclyn of Marion, Joshua Adam Wright of Clarksville, TN, Benjamin Joel Wright of Herrin, IL, Sarah Jean Wright of Metropolis, IL and Otis Tuttle of Marion; thirty four great grandchildren, Angela O’Leary, Kerrigan Wright, Braxton Wright, Eva Lou Wright, Katie Zeilinski, Ashley Carney, Jaci Elyse Bethel, Cross Bethel, Blaze Bethel, Duke Bethel, Bao Bethel, Blyss Bethel, Addilynn Bethel, Charlotte Bethel, Caitlyn Tucker, Emma Tucker, Haddie Tucker, Mia Tucker, Chelsea Tucker, Max Howard, Brody West, William Evan West, Brayden Bethel, Caleb Bethel, Luke Whaley, Kathryn Whitecotton, Stephen Whitecotton, Sarah Whitecotton, Jacob Speer, Jayden Speer, Nathaniel Flajs, Madison Flajs, Brock Tuttle, Rafe Tuttle and Payton Tuttle; one great-great grandchild, Axel O’Leary, and a host of other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; two sons, Robert Justin Bethel and Stephen Jeffery Bethel both on October 31, 1982; granddaughter, Virginia Ellen Carney; five sisters, Rosa Lee Dunn, Mary Elizabeth Turnley, Betty Jene Bowling, Edna Welch and Della May Bird and three brothers, Robert, Cecil and Peter David “P.D.” Bowling. Arrangements were entrusted to Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 North Court Street, Marion, IL. The time of visitation was from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 14th, at the funeral home. During the visitation a “Reflection of Life” DVD Memorial Tribute was presented to the family and friends and featured special people, places, and events of Sarah’s life. The funeral service was at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 15th, at the First Baptist Church, located at 401 W. Union St. with Dr. Bob Dickerson presiding. The prelude and postlude musical selections were presented by organist, Julie Douglas and pianist, Byron Corzine. Special recorded vocal musical selections presented during the service were “Beulah Land” by son, James Wright and “There Will Come a Day” by Faith Hill. Special vocal musical selection presented during the service was “A Child of the King” as a congregational hymn lead by Rev. Brian Summers accompanied on the piano by Byron Corzine and on the organ by Julie Douglas. Special comments of memory were presented by grandsons, Andrew Bethel and Billy Bethel, granddaughter, Stephanie Bethel, and son, David Bethel. Interment followed next to her husband in Rose Hill Cemetery of Marion. Those serving as pallbearers were Noah Bethel, William Bethel, Lucas Bethel, Andrew Bethel, Eric Bethel, and Jared Speer. Special song, “Victory in Jesus” was sang at the graveside committal service. Following the graveside committal service at the cemetery family and friends gathered back at First Baptist Church for a meal and continued time of fellowship and support. For those who preferred, memorial contributions were made to either or both; “First Baptist Church Mission Fund” and/or “Light House Homeless Shelter” and mailed in care of Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 N. Court Street, Marion, IL 62959. Memorial envelopes were available at the funeral home. For more information call the funeral home at 618-993-2131.