Ethel Lee Chapman Best of Alto, Texas went home to the arms of Jesus on Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, April 12, 2020 at the age or 86. 

Ethel was born on January 21, 1934 to Albert Chapman and Tressie Wingo Chapman in Big Springs, Texas.  She met and married her husband Lee Ray Best at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas on April 4, 1958.  They were married for 62 amazing years.  While her husband pastored Baptist Churches, Ethel was a nurse, raised 4 children, and worked along side her husband teaching Sunday School classes and working in the church. Mrs. Best was lifelong supporter and encourager of her four children, the local church, and missions.  She and her husband took several mission trips to Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico.  Throughout the years she taught her children that there was no higher calling than to serve Christ and to serve others.  She and her husband worked for 60 years conducting worship services, teaching Bible studies in Nursing homes, teaching youth groups at church, and working in prison ministries. Mrs. Best had a passion for children, missions, singing hymns of faith, and sharing that faith with others.  Ethel was a loving mother, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, and her favorite a Grandgrand. 

Ethel Best is survived by her husband Rev. Lee Ray Best, daughter Barbara Lee Marchbanks and husband Rev. David Marchbanks of Cleburne, son Rev. Mark Best and wife Pam of Chile, daughter Darla Britt of Chandler, daughter-in-law Dawn Best, 18 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, a younger brother David Boyd Chapman, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Mrs. Best is preceded in death by her parents Albert and Tressie Chapman, son Robin D. Best, brothers Vernon Chapman, Jerry Chapman, and Sonny Chapman, sister Louis Frances Chapman, and son-in-law Rev. David Britt.

One of her favorite verses was Isaiah 41:10 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.  Do not be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

A celebration of Ethel’s life will be on Wednesday April 15, 2020 with a graveside service at Resthaven Cemetery in Jacksonville, Texas at 10:00 am. Pastor Nathan McBride officiating.