Ethel May Stilwell

Ethel May Stilwell, of Holbrook, Arizona, died Monday, January 14, 2008 in White Mountain Lakes, Arizona at the home of her daughter. She was 95. Ethel was born on May 25, 1912 in Hancock, Wisconsin to the late Elmer Ellsworth and Regina Margaret (Czarneski) Shepard. At the age of 17, Ethel married her childhood sweetheart, Weybourne Irish Stilwell, on April 22, 1930 in Waukegan, Illinois "at ten o'clock in the morning." They would have celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary this spring. She was a loving wife to her husband and a devoted mother to her children and grandchildren throughout her long life, and, according to them, she was an excellent homemaker. In the early years of her marriage, Ethel worked for a rocket factory in munitions during World War II in Badger Village, Wisconsin. She then worked as a telephone operator for the Plainfield Telephone Company in Plainfield, Wisconsin. In 1959 Ethel and Irish moved to Casa Grande, Arizona, then to Mesa, and finally in 1961, they moved to Holbrook, Arizona where they have since resided. While in Holbrook, she continued to work as a telephone operator, until her retirement in 1977. On several occasions following her retirement, she and Irish were able to travel back and forth to her native Wisconsin where she thoroughly enjoyed visiting with family and friends. Ethel was a faithful member of the Holbrook United Methodist Church and found joy by serving her church family in various capacities over the years. She was a gifted seamstress and could make just about anything. Her daughters and granddaughters all were benefactresses of that talent, as they were able to enjoy her handmade dresses. She also was skilled with crocheting and enjoyed tole painting numerous items over the years. Ethel especially liked being outside working in her garden where she always had beautiful flowers growing. This sweet lady truly will be missed. Ethel is survived by: her husband, W. Irish Stilwell of Holbrook, AZ; 1 daughter, Regina Wrasse of White Mountain Lakes, AZ; 4 grandchildren: Carl Wrasse of White Mountain Lakes, Cynthia Teigen (Michael) of Kingman, AZ, Clayton Wrasse of Show Low, AZ, Heather Saunders (Dan Laszlow) of Phoenix, AZ; 5 great-grandchildren: Michael Holladay (Monica) of Springville, CA, Alivia Wrasse, John Wrasse, Benjamin Wrasse and Sam Wrasse all of Show Low; 2 great-great-grandsons: Cameron and Caelan Holladay; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by: a daughter, Judith Saunders in 1996; a granddaughter, Regina Michelle "Roo" Saunders in 1993; and a son-in-law, Carl Wrasse, Sr. in 1998. The funeral service will be held 1:00 P.M., Friday, January 18, 2008 at the United Methodist Church of Holbrook, 118 W. Arizona in Holbrook, AZ.