Ima Jean Beatty Ely

Ima Jean Ely, 90, passed peacefully on Saturday, October 24, 2015. Loving mother of sons Edward Stevenson of Ft. Worth, Greg Beatty of Abilene, and Leland Beatty of Austin; granddaughter Sheila Stevenson of Abilene, and step-children Randon Ely and Becky Camarillo of Abilene and Neil Ely of San Marcos, and many, many others through her work with the church and as a teacher. She taught languages at Madison Jr. High School for 20 years. After retirement, she devoted herself first to a Free Methodist ministry, and then to a prison ministry with her late husband, Orval Ely. Born to Clara Lee Johnson and Phil Scott on June 15, 1925 in Floydada, Texas, where her mother had been elected county clerk in the first election in which women had the right to vote, she was the oldest of eight children. The Great Depression moved her family to the Abilene area in 1931. She credited her life-long dedication to teaching to Ms Cayton, her second and fifth grade teacher in the Denton Valley School, who was kind enough to get to know each child in the school and really try to inspire each one to reach for a better life. At the beginning of World War II, Camp Barkeley was built across the fence from her family farm. She became a war bride and then a single mother, and built her incredible strength and faith in God over that challenging decade. In 1952, Jean met and soon married Lee Beatty, with whom she shared absolute trust, fundamental values and disagreements over the details, and dedicated themselves to their two sons until his death in 1983. She graduated from McMurry College in 1966, having resumed her studies once all of her children had started school and spent the rest of her professional life in the classroom. Above all else, she believed in God's grace, a helpful quality for mothers, middle school teachers and ministers. Jean pastored the Northside Free Methodist Church, ministering to a mission congregation after her retirement from teaching. In those years, she reached out to all those Jesus commanded us to serve in the Sermon on the Mount. She became tireless, effortlessly patient, endlessly kind and completely fearless. Her grand-daughter, Sheila Stevenson, became a cherished source of hope and support, and a true, faithful and wonderful blessing to the end. In 1995, at age 70, she married Orval Ely. They joined together in a life of Christian service first at Northside Free Methodist Church, and continued at Wylie United Methodist Church, that touched and inspired those around them for the next 20 years. Orval drove the church bus in the early years, then after Jean’s retirement from her church, she joined him in a prison ministry. They were partners in life and in faith. "Miz Ely" will be remembered and missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by a brother, W. J. "George" Scott of Austin, sisters Christine Merrill of Azle and Mary "Mert" Swofford of Clyde, three sons, three step-children, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and the many lives she touched. Jean was preceded in death by four brothers, John Paul Scott, Phil Ed Scott, Glenn Herman Scott and Rex Scott. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, October 29, 2015 at Wylie United Methodist Church with Rev. Jeff Hatcher officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.