Elizabeth "Betty" Axworthy

She died on July 15, 2023, at Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions.

She graduated from Wayne State University in January 1949 with a BS degree and began teaching first grade at Harding Elementary School in Ferndale, Michigan. In May 1952, she received her Master of Religious Education degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For two years she was Director of Christian Education at the First Baptist Church of Olean, New York.

She married Rev. Dwayne Axworthy, then pastor of the Berean Baptist Church in Reading, Pennsylvania, in September 1954. During their time there daughter Karen was born.

In November 1956, the family moved to Livonia, Michigan under the auspices of the American Baptist Convention of Churches for New Frontiers Program where they established a new congregation which became the Emmanuel Baptist Church. Daughters Janet and Laura were born during this time. She was a substitute teacher for the Livonia Public School system.

June 1963 saw the family's move to Richmond, California where her husband served as Associate Pastor of the First Baptist Church. Son Robert was born there.

The family came to Casper, Wyoming in June 1970 to the first Baptist lChurch where her husband was the associate pastor and later Senior Pastor.

She was a substitute teacher in the Natrona County School District from 1970-1976. From 1976-1979 she taught third grade at Fairdale School. She transferred to Verda James School in 1979 when that school opened and taught third grade until her retirement in 1992. Twice she was a cooperating or supervising teacher in the University of Wyoming College of Education student teaching program. In 1990 she was selected to be in the first edition of Who's Who Among American Teachers. From the time of her youth, she enjoyed singing alto and participated in university and seminary choral groups as well as numerous church choirs.