Velna Marie Stewart

Obituary Velna Marie Stewart February 13, 1924 - June 4, 2019 Velna passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home at Aspen Ridge after a brief battle with heart disease. She passed as she had prayed "to go to sleep and wake up in heaven" on her 74th wedding anniversary. Velna was born to Robert Davis Williams and Eva Etta (Trowbridge) Williams on February 13, 1924 in Page, Nebraska. After graduating from high school in Page, she moved with her family to Salem, Oregon, and began attending the Free Methodist Church. There she met the family of the Pastor, Jim Stewart. The four Stewart sisters decided that Velna would be the perfect match for their brother, Roland. Roland agreed and when he returned from WWII in 1945, they were married. Velna acted as Rolands editor and typist through Seattle Pacific University and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore Kentucky. Velna had a very demanding career, although unpaid, as a Pastors wife from 1954 to 1988 in the Oregon Conference of the Free Methodist (FM) Church. During that era FM pastors were transferred every few years so Velna served in Grants Pass, Willamina, Medford, Madras, Salem, Albany and Portland. Velnas talents as organizer, childrens program director, hostess, bookkeeper, typist, editor and family CFO were used extensively. Retirement was a great time for Velna (although she was not able to retire from her least favorite job - cooking). Roland and Velna enjoyed traveling and spending time with family and friends. Velna had a special talent maintaining contact with friends from the many places she lived. These friends and the new ones she made in Bend greatly enriched her life after Rolands passing in 2014. Velna is survived by: Her two daughters, Linda Stewart-Jones and Carol (Larry) Goerz; three grandchildren; Staci Crouch (Pouya Larjani), Elise (Matt) Sizer, and James Stewart-Jones, three great grandchildren; Jack Crouch, Mason Sizer, and Emilia Sizer; and sister-in-law Shirley Williams. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roland, brother, Lyle Williams, son-in-law David Stewart-Jones, and grandson-in-law Jordan Crouch. Her life will be celebrated June 22, at 10 AM in the Great Room at Aspen Ridge, 1010 NE Purcell Blvd, Bend, OR 97701 in a service officiated by Jason Medina. In lieu of flowers, Velna asked that contributions be made in her honor to Partners in Care. Funeral Home: Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home 105 NW Irving Ave Bend, OR US 97701

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Velna Marie Stewart

February 13, 1924 - June 4, 2019