Ethel Mae Bretz

Ethel Mae Bretz, age 97, a resident of Trenton, MO, formerly of Cowgill, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016, at Sunnyview Nursing Home in Trenton.

Ethel Mae was born the daughter of John Olen and Ernie Lavenia Jackson on May 4, 1919, in Hamilton. She spent 69 years of her life in Cowgill. She was a 1935 graduate of Cowgill High School. She then attended Chillicothe Business College, graduating in 1939. She was united in marriage to Dr. O.C. Kilbourn on Dec. 23, 1940, in Olathe, KS. He preceded her in death on July 22, 1960. Ethel was then united in marriage to George Russell Bretz on Nov. 5, 1966, in Cowgill. He preceded her in death on Oct. 19, 1984.

She worked as a bookkeeper for Polo Farm Supply from Oct. 1963 until Feb. 1983. She then worked as a postal clerk at the Cowgill Post Office until her retirement in 1998. Ethel Mae was a faithful member of the Cowgill United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher, Secretary of the Board, the choir, and United Methodist Women. She was also a member of the City Council, serving as treasurer, Cowgill Community Association treasurer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Caldwell County Health Department, and the American Cancer Society. Ethel was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Trenton, where she was active in the Wesley UMC Women, the Wesley UMC choir, the Wesley UMC Retirees, and the Ecumenical Bible Study. Ethel was an R.S.V.P. volunteer at Wright Memorial Hospital for many years.

Survivors include one sister, Mary Freeman of Trenton; stepson, Jim Bretz of Blue Springs; stepdaughter, Rosemary Tede of Lake Tapawingo; step granddaughter, Gretchen Bretz of Lake Tapawingo; step great-grandson, Ian Bretz-Brown of Lake Tapawingo; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dr. O.C. Kilbourn; husband, George Bretz; six brothers, J.D., Dean, Paul, Donald, Jerry and Allen Jackson; one sister, Maurine Jackson; and one infant sister.

Funeral services will be held at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Trenton on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. A scheduled family visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service from noon until 1:00 p.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe on Friday, Nov. 4, from noon until 8:00 p.m. Burial will be held at the Cowgill Cemetery in Cowgill. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ethel Mae Bretz Memorial Fund, and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, MO 64601. Online condolences may be left at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe.

The Caldwell County News

101 South Davis
P.O. Box 218
Hamilton, MO 64644
Phone: 816-583-2116
news@mycaldwellcounty.com

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