Empey, Hattie M. 1874-1953

EMPEY, BARTLETT

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/14/2013 at 19:57:50

MRS. W. BRUCE EMPEY

Hattie Mae Bartlett was born at Boone, Iowa, December 1, 1874. While still a child her parents removed to Odebolt, Iowa, where she grew to young womanhood. She graduated from Odebolt High School and later entered Morningside College from which she graduated in the Class of 1900.

It was her girlhood ambition to be a minister’s wife and devote her life to the work of the church. This dream was realized when she was united in marriage with W. Bruce Empey on January 3, 1899. In order to help her husband in the work on his first charge at Seney, Iowa, she obtained permission in the middle of her senior year to complete her course by mail.

In November of 1900 she and her husband were appointed to Missionary work in India, where each of them engaged in educational work. After about two years, because of Mr. Empey’s failing health, they returned to Iowa and took up again the work of the regular ministry at Merrill, Iowa. They later served at Schaller, Sloan, Aurelia, and Belmond.

In 1912, hoping to find health improvement for Mr. Empey, she went with him to Alberta, Canada, expecting to remain there for two or three years, but they remained for twelve years and engaged in pioneer work in the United Church of Canada.

In 1924 she and her family returned to the United States and located at McMinnville, Oregon, where they served the McCabe church for 7 years. They served also at Brownsville for four years, Coburg for six years, and in 1947, Mr. Empey retired from the active work and they continued to make their home at Junction City.

On October 3, 1953, Mrs. Empey had an accidental fall and sustained a fractured hip. She underwent an operation on the hip but the shock of the accident together with the operation and the fact that she had been a victim of diabetes for several years was more than she could withstand and November 5, 1953, quietly passed away in her sleep.

Funeral services were held for her in her home church at Junction City, Oregon, on November 7. The Reverend S. Darlow Johnson, a life long friend of the family, conducted the services. Interment was made in the Evergreen Memorial Park, McMinnville, Oregon.

She loved the church and devoted her life to its work. She was especially active in all its missionary activities. She was never happier than when in company with her husband, she could do pastoral visiting.
~W. B. Empey