Elizabeth M. Mansfield

Elizabeth M. Mansfield, age 90, of Maryville, died at 4:09 a.m. Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at Anderson Hospital in Maryville.

She was born May 31, 1929 in Canada, the daughter of the late John Thomas and Isabelle (Ridley) Bews. She married William H. Mansfield of Salina, Kansas on October 19, 1957 in Oregon. He preceded her in death January 16, 2009.

Mrs. Mansfield is survived by two children: Capt. John W. (Nancy) Mansfield of Birmingham, AL and Heather (Tony) Galloway of Collinsville and; eight grandchildren: Katie (Gavin) Bastian of Irondale, AL, Christie (Alexander) McKinney of Hoover, AL, Abigail Mansfield of Branchville, AL John W. Mansfield, Jr. of Branchville, AL, Austin (Austyn) Galloway of Grand Rapids, MI, and Alyssa Galloway, Stone Galloway and Autumn Galloway of Collinsville, IL; and five great-grandchildren: Hava, Isaiah and Jonah Bastian, Dean Mansfield and Jackson Galloway.

Elizabeth (Beth) became a registered nurse from the Minister of Health in the Province of Ontario, Canada in 1951. She then moved to and worked as a nurse in San Francisco, California until she met and married William (Bill), a seafarer with the United States Merchant Marines. They resided in California and began raising a family while traveling extensively across the country and Europe before relocating their family to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 1975. There they served Youth With A Mission (YWAM) now known as University of the Nations, as pioneers for the small boat ministry vision to reach the nations of the world for Jesus Christ.

Beth served with many ministries of YWAM as a mother, seamstress for Kings Kids International, nurse for International Christian Schools, secretary for the Family Counseling Clinic, and dear friend to all that knew her while Bill served the boat ministry as a small vessel instructor and seaman. He later took a job on an inter-island cruise line. She and Bill purchased a home/coffee farm and settled in Captain Cook, Hawaii until the early 90's when they decided to be closer to their married children on the mainland. They continued to enjoy traveling in their campers and RV visiting with their growing family, friends, and serving again with YWAM. They eventually made Collinsville, IL their home joining Son Life Church followed by Navigation Church until their deaths.

Loved dearly by her faithful husband for 52 years, two children, eight grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and all that called her friend, Beth is now reunited with her husband in eternity.

A Celebration Open House will be held at Navigation Church, 1205 Vandalia in Collinsville on Monday, August 19 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm in the cafe. All are welcome.