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- 40-year Portland resident and nationally respected voice for economic and social justice, will be held here at Sharon Seventh-day Adventist Church, at 11 a.m., on Friday, October 26. The eulogy will be delivered by Elder Alphonso McCarthy, who will be assisted by Elder Garth Dottin, Pastor of Sharon SDA church--and Elder Louis Turner, Pastor of Your Bible Speaks SDA Church, where she held membership for nine years. Prior to Your Bible Speaks, she was a member of Sharon Church from 1977-2009. She died suddenly, on October 11, 2018, at her home in Portland, of an abdominal aortic aneurism. She was 86. Born Jean Eleanor Bethel, on February 20, 1932, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Dorothy Jenny and George Alfred Bethel, she married Edwin S. Ewell in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1952. He served in the U.S. Air Force for over 20 years. During that time, the family lived in Japan, England, Maine, Texas and Montana. In each of these locations, she served communities and churches, most notably as a Girl Scout and Pathfinders leader and Sabbath School teacher. While in Lancaster, her uncompromising voice for social justice--and the less fortunate--was heard as a Volunteer Consultant with the city’s Human Relations Department. In Portland, as director of Sharon Church’s Community Services, her leadership in feeding, clothing and sheltering the poor were widely noted. Later, during retirement, she made baby baskets for struggling mothers and their newborns, which included special gifts and the book, “Steps to Christ.” On the national level, Mrs. Ewell was a highly regarded member of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Advisory Committee to implement the Flammable Fabrics Act, on which she served for four years, from 1977 to 1981. She was one of only 27 selected by the Commission which drew over 1200 applicants from diverse backgrounds and professions. A woman of many interests, she loved dogs, books, antiques, art and chocolates. Her interest in dogs led to breeding Airedale Terriers. She had many pet dogs, mostly terriers; her love of animals often inspired close observation of squirrels and birds. Highly regarded for her taste in interior decorating, she frequently hunted for treasures in antique stores and ultimately opened one in Lancaster. If her eye could see it, she could draw it. In her sketch book, she drew portraits of interesting people and subjects which caught her artistic eyes and recreated Andy Warhol-style paintings for her home. Chocolates were another passion; her favorite was See’s Candies. She had a standing request of her son Derek-Please bring a dime bag! Mrs. Ewell enjoyed entertaining and her home was a regular gathering place for friends and family. That passion inspired her to establish a business, Elegant Weddings on a Shoestring. She also created another one that showcased her innate gifts in arranging flowers, decorating and brightening festive occasions. She constantly looked for new recipes to use and share. She disliked leftovers, and, as a result, cooked often. Although walking and work were arduous, she was preparing to host a Sabbath lunch on the day she died. During her working years, Mrs. Ewell’s interests were reflected in a number of skilled positions, including health care. One of the most recent was as a surgical technician at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin S., in 2006 and four children, Stephanie Jo Ewell (1949-2000), Patricia Ann Ewell (1967), Mark Ewell (1956) and Edward Ewell (1948). Mrs. Ewell is survived by six children, Derek Ewell, Portland, (Jenny Watters), Traci White, Vancouver, WA. (Cedric White), Jamie Emelike, Chesapeake, VA., (Emelike U. Emelike), Kent Ewell, Portland, (Marchelle Ewell), Candace Ewell, Alexandria, VA., (Terrance Taylor) and Grant Ewell, Portland, (Ami Ewell); siblings, Shirley A. Malone, Beaverton, Sophie Williams, Atlantic City, N.J. and Frank McRae, Los Angeles, CA; 16 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
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