Ethel Apshire

On Thursday, October 6, 2022, Ethel May Apshire of Silsbee entered eternal rest peacefully in her home surrounded by her loved ones. She was ninety- one. Ethel was born March 19, 1931, to Amy May Lee and William Peau Josey.

Ethel graduated from High School in Hempstead, Texas. She moved to Silsbee in 1948. She was employed for Southwestern Bell and retired as a telephone operator. After retirement, she loved spending time with her family, resale shopping, cooking Sunday dinners and using her special sewing and embroidery talents crafting unique gifts for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always had a loving heart. She could lift anyone’s spirits with her amazing words of encouragement.

Later in life, she became an avid reader of Christian books; sometimes reading 3 to 4 per week. You could easily find her in a chair exploring with her imagination with every turning of a new page in her latest book purchase. Ethel was best known for her quick-witted humor, wonderful wisdom, generous spirit, and her amazing love for our Heavenly Father. She will always have a special place in each of our hearts.

Ethel was preceded in death by her mother and father; her siblings, Willie Lee Allen, Bertha Viola Jenkins, Anna Lucille Franks, Erma Ray Granier, James Lester Josey, William Peau Josey Jr, and Marvin Earl Josey; and her beloved children, Judy Stewart, Jackie Apshire and Jerry Apshire.

She is survived by her siblings, Thomas Cecil Josey, Betty Helen Harrison, Bernice Tanton, Sybil Marie Balla and Sydney Ruth Airheart; her two daughters-in-law; Gloria Apshire and Carolina Apshire; her son-in-law, Robert Stewart; her grandchildren and their families, Chad (Amie) Stewart, Christie Apshire, Corrie Miller, Jerry Apshire Jr, Jackie Apshire Jr, Joshua (Jamie) Stewart, Stacie Apshire, Amanda (Kenny) Wiley, and Timothy (Kelly) Apshire, as well as 17 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation was at 1 p.m. with the funeral service at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 9, at Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee.