Life Events in the
Church of God

Dale Atteberry and his wife, Colleen, appreciate prayers for him. He is currently in a hospice facility in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Della Worden of Big Sandy, Texas, was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She is scheduled for surgery and then chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Laura Moran is suffering from diverticulitis.

Dorothy Jones, injury to knee and ankle.

Toni Stark of Maryville, Mo., scheduled for surgery due to cancer.

Tony Schmidt of Dallas was diagnosed with brain cancer. He is recovering from surgery.

Ethel M. McMullen, 102, of Berwick, Maine, passed away May 4, 2013, after a brief illness surrounded by her family. Ethel was born Sept. 9, 1910, to Harry C. and Grace N. MacKenzie in South Berwick. After graduating from Berwick Academy in 1929, Ethel moved with her family to what was to be her lifelong home in Berwick. Many years of private-duty home care led her to matriculate in 1945 at Central Maine Medical Center School of Nursing, where she graduated near the top of her class. Ethel made friends easily and retained those friendships long into her senior years. She was easy to talk to and demonstrated an interest in a wide variety of topics. She loved helping others, and her gift for service benefitted many people. A devout Christian her entire life, she never evangelized but demonstrated her devotion through her way of life and interactions with others. Ethel's most memorable quality was her fierce devotion to her family. She was never happier than when she was surrounded by the ones she loved so dearly.

Ethel is survived by her daughter Heather G. MacKenzie, nephews D. Timothy MacKenzie, Stephen P. MacKenzie and Daniel B. MacKenzie and many great- and great-great nieces and nephews and cousins and, of course, her "little black dog" Jada. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul B. McMullen.

Emilee Bishop died May 23, 2013, from acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a form of child leukemia, and heart failure. She is survived by her parents, Maria and Graham Bishop, three younger sisters, Beverly, Caroline and Savannah, grandparents and other family. The Bishops receive mail at 5425 Old Creek Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.

Leslie Myrick died June 29, 2013, after suffering from cancer. She is survived by her grown children, John, Rick, Elizabeth and Kimberly Reid (27 Ken Laushway Ave., Stouffville, Ont. L4A OH4, Canada); sisters Ruth Myrick (15905 Bent Tree Forest Circle, Apt. 1056, Dallas, TX 75248) and Julie Wilkins (Box 392, CR 3900, Hawkins, TX 75765); and brother, David Myrick (9521 Ravenwood Dr., Denton, TX 76207).

Kenton Zlab, 81, died July 10, 2013, of cancer. He will be buried in Nebraska. A memorial service is planned here in Pasadena. Ken was one of the men who made the Ambassador College campus the beautiful place that it was. His God-given talents were many, and he used them generously. He is survived by his wife, Eva, a daughter, Elizabeth, two sons, Joseph and Kenton, and eight grandchildren. Cards may be sent to the Zlab family at 964 N. Holliston Pasadena, CA 91104.

Thomas Dry died peacefully May 3, 2013, due to complications following a stroke. Mr. Dry attended the Church of God Big Sandy when he was able. He is survived by his wife, Kay, and daughter, Julie Savage.

Bryce Gordon Clark, 81, of Eugene, Ore., died May 12, 2013, of congestive heart failure. He was born July 3, 1931, in Billings, Mont. He grew up in Bridger, Mont., living there until joining the military after high school in 1949. He received a B.A. degree from Ambassador College in 1958, became an ordained minister and married Helen M. Murray the same year. His entire career consisted of pastoring churches and teaching the Bible.

He was preceded in death by his brother Dean Clark and twin sister Jo Ann O'Brien. He is survived by his wife, Helen, and children Kent, Karen, Sharon, Robert and Brenda and nine grandsons, three granddaughters and three great-granddaughters.

LaNora Reay, 75, died peacefully in her daughter's home on May 25, 2013. LaNora was a member of God's church for many years, and it was an extremely important part of her life. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Terrill, who receives mail at 10 Pylle Lane, Bella Vista, AR 72715, U.S.A.

Amber Yvonne Schnippert Patrick passed away June 18, 2013. She is survived by her husband, Josh; daughter, Megan; parents, Bernie and Arlene Schnippert; and two sisters, Crystal and Coral.

Stella Sophia White, 100, died June 11, 2013, in Manson, Wash. She was born to Carl and Ethel Fels in Emmett, Idaho. She is survived by a daughter, Maureen White of Manson; a son, Glen White (Connie) of Stevensville, Mont.; five grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Wilbert Fels, and sisters Connie Thomas of Spokane and Patty Werlech of Seattle. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Valden W. White, in 1997.

Becky Royer, 60, a longtime member of the Santa Rosa, Calif., church, died May 25, 2013. She was baptized in 1968. Becky was much loved by the brethren, and she was a sweet, loving and caring person who was dedicated to God's way of life for many years. She is missed greatly by all who were touched by her life. She is survived by her husband, Doug, two married children, Doug and Elaine, and two grandchildren, Hazel, 3, and Ben, 4 months.

James Varnell Neff, 55, of Queen City, Texas, died Tuesday, July 9, 2013, after a brief illness. Mr. Neff was born Jan. 27, 1958, in Texarkana, Texas. He was a branch business manager with Airgas Mid-South and a member of the United Church of God.

Survivors include his wife, Glenda; one daughter, Sarah; one son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Elizabeth; three brothers, Lonnie, Charles and Gary; two sisters, Linda Laper and Violet Helmes; one grandson, James David; and other relatives. Dr. Donald Ward officiated at the memorial service. Memorials may be made to East Texas United Church of God Building Find, 1007 N. Tyler St., Big Sandy, TX 75755, or Hospice of Texarkana, 803 Spruce St., Texarkana, TX 75501.

Luella Burgess, 87, a member of God's church since 1967, died on July 2, 2013, from complications of dementia. A memorial is planned for later in the month in Twin Falls, Idaho. Luella's granddaughter, Becki Burgess, writes: "Thank you all for inquiring about her many times over the years and for your concern and prayers. The family has appreciated it very much, and we know that the only reason she kept going was because of God and His will. She will be greatly missed."