Ethel Lee Chapman Best

April 15, 2020

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 Jan. 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 four 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, the Rev. Lee Ray Best; daughter, Barbara Lee Marchbanks and husband, the Rev. David Marchbanks of Cleburne; son, the 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 was 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, the 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 was held Wednesday, April 15, 2020, with a graveside service at Resthaven Cemetery in Jacksonville, Texas. Pastor Nathan McBride officiated.