Sermon Tone Analysis

Church:

Pre-Service [Instrumental Hymns playlist; single picture slide]

[Instrumental Hymns playlist; single picture slide]

Seating of the Family [informally]

Song: “I Stand Amazed in the Presence” [lyric slides; Kelly – Piano; Becky – Vocal]

[lyric slides; Kelly – Piano; Becky – Vocal]

Life History [Scott]

Elsie Marie (Altenbernd) Turley, born February 17, 1923, in Olathe, CO, passed away from this earth, entering her heavenly reward on March 7, 2019, at NorthCare Hospice, in North Kansas City, at the age of 96 years and 20 days.

Life History [Scott]

She was the middle of three daughters born to William and Freydis (Leonard) Altenbernd…her older sister, Jean; and her younger sister, Thelma.

In those early years, Elsie’s family moved to Hayward, California, where she grew up on their ranch.

When it came to life on the ranch…Elsie enjoyed being outside, especially riding her pony, rather than doing chores (she would try really hard to sneak in the house and get back out before being caught and ‘asked’ to do any chores).

She also has remarked that because of her family’s ranch, she didn’t experience the severity of the Depression like so many, including Cecil’s family, did.

She counted that as a blessing.

Eventually, Elsie’s family moved back to Colorado.

She graduated from Montrose High School, Montrose, CO (c.

1941), after which she went to work as a telephone operator in Pueblo, CO.

She soon transferred in her job to Grand Junction, CO.

So, as I remember being told just a few short years ago by Elsie…there wasn’t a lot to do there.

In order to meet people and just have a good time, EVERYBODY, went to the dance hall…which is where she met Chris (as her sister mistaken thought), or actually Cecil—the man who became the love of her life.

They were married on April 16, 1950, at the First Baptist Church in Grand Junction.

The pathway of their life together eventually led Elsie and Cecil to the Kansas City area.

Along this journey, our Lord saw fit to bless their home with three great kids—Jim, Linda, and Nancy…and eventually Pam, Loren, and Lance…and then the grandkids…& great-grandkids!.

The stories which have been told…too numerous to count…reveal an amazing home, full of joy, acceptance, encouragement, and caring.

For example, family events, especially birthdays, always included games…new games.

Friends and family alike wanted to be a part of these happenings…others upon hearing the stories about these parties would remark, “Man, your family is just a lot of fun!”

There is also the “skate box” Christmas gift which is an ongoing family tradition.

After those original skates had been given as a gift, Cecil and Elsie used that box to give a special gift for one family member which also included a poem written especially for that person.

This tradition remains a part of this family’s Christmas joy.

Linda and Nancy have also shared their great appreciation for the ceaseless encouragement they received from their Mom and Dad.

Whatever they wanted to try, Elsie and Cecil did what they could to make that opportunity happen.

That meant that Elsie was involved in their lives as a Campfire leader, Cub Scout leader, PTA member…and VBS worker!

Ah yes…VBS worker.

Serving cookies and Kool-Aid to the kids during this wonderful church ministry event.

AND…let me back up.

You see, Elsie grew up going to church, and at age 18 at a Baptist church in Montrose, CO, she repented of her sin and placed her faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord.

After they had arrived in the KC area, some friends—the Meeks—invited them to their church, Claycomo Baptist Church, and since the early 1950’s the Turley’s have called this church their home.

Members of our church family have talked about Elsie as caring (asking them about how their families were doing [even when they were their to visit and check in on how she was doing]), prayer warriors, and welcoming (especially to those kids…and the youth kids in our church).

They actively served here in many capacities, including VBS, over the years.

I, well not just me, vividly recall seeing Elsie and Cecil actively helping during our church work days…from cleaning the church refrigerators to, in more recent years, at their own pace, taking on the job of cleaning windows…together.

Together was the theme of their lives…for each other, their family, their church, and their friends.

Praying together…for their kids when they would travel… :-)…and so much more.

In recent years, Elsie wasn’t able to make it to church worship services, but she remained active in her faith—reading her bible at least a couple of times a day, praying, and (at Nancy & Lance’s house) tuning in to watch Dr. Charles Stanley’s preaching on TV.

Speaking of Nancy & Lance’s house…most recently they renovated a section of their house to be Elsie’s apartment.

She moved in with them…and Lance, her son-in-law, did soooo much in helping care for her.

On more than one occasion family members have expressed their great appreciation for his investment of himself in caring for her.

Oh me…if the conversation I had late last week with Elsie’s family is any indication (right, Loren), I could go on and on (we’ll just blame that on Linda!).

Let me just include some of the wonderful descriptions family and church family have given of this lovely lady: steady, faithful, available, not a coddler but certainly an encourager, prayer warrior, big-hearted, not a complainer, and certainly a godly Christian example to one and all.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Cecil, and her son, Jim.

She is survived by her daughters: Linda Martens ans her husband, Loren, of Kansas City; and Nancy Staves, and her husband, Lance, of Kearney; daughter-in-law, Pam Goodliff, and her husband Weston, of Kansas City; seven grandchildren: Greg, Brad, Kevin, Andy, Missy, Jake, and Eric; 14 great grandchildren; and numerous church family and friends (as you all give testimony by your presence here to support and encourage Elsie’s family here today).

Song: “There’s Something about That Name” [lyric slides; Kelly – Piano; Becky – Vocal]

[lyric slides; Kelly – Piano; Becky – Vocal]

Song: “Down to the River to Pray” [background track; Missy Haskamp & Andy Martens]

[background track; Missy Haskamp & Andy Martens]

Message: [Scott]

[That song was simply amazing!…]

I now have the privilege today of sharing with you from a wonderful passage of the Bible which is so very appropriate as we celebrate Elsie’s life today…AND celebrate the great and awesome God—her Lord—without whom today would be a much different occasion....for, while we are sad, we grieve but not without hope.

We will miss Elsie, but we know where she is.

The greatest legacy anyone can leave one’s family is a life well lived following Jesus.

I ask you all to listen to these words from the Old Testament.

Words which describe a specific portrait of a person…more specifically, a lady.

This portrait, I believe, has been on display before us in the life of Elsie Marie Turley...

I just can’t help but see Elsie and Cecil in this description.

What a blessing they were to each other.

What a fitting complement Elsie was to Cecil.

Prov 31.

Proverbs 31.

Determination.

Confidence.

Great character.

Loving, even if not coddling, in raising her family.

Not one one to sit still…cleaning, cooking, working on projects with Cecil, participating in kids activities.

Elsie certainly exemplified the character qualities of this God-honoring woman described here in Proverbs 31.

AND…Family testimony.

So many of Elsie’s family—kids, grandkids—have expressed the same level of praise and adoration for her as we read from the words of Scripture here!

I am drawn to focus in on the bottom-line reason Elsie could live this life and pass on this legacy…which is being lived out through her family...

Verse 30 says: “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting…but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.”

And there we have it.

Earlier in the Book of Proverbs, we are shown that, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (1.7a).

For any one of us, fearing the Lord includes taking Him at his word.

Believing that everything God has revealed in the Bible is absolutely, unendingly true…like:

The fear of the LORD

is the beginning of knowledge

John 14.

I hope that everyone here has the same level of understanding of and trust in God.

That he loved us in such a way that he was willing to have his one and only son take our place and die for our sin in order that through repentance and faith we can know forgiveness, have the certain hope of eternal life, and…live our lives right now for the glory of his name.

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), .

I know those things to be true of Elsie.

She didn’t want to be the center of attention.

She put others before herself.

She served just like Jesus.

If you would like to know more about how you could have this same confidence, I’d love to talk with anyone at any time about this.

Don’t miss out on the greatest relationship…the greatest love…the greatest hope you can ever know...

Song: “Precious Lord” [lyric slides; Kelly – Piano; Becky – Vocal]

[lyric slides; Kelly – Piano; Becky – Vocal]

Prayer [Scott]

Dismissing of Friends [general dismissal, no final viewing]

[general dismissal, no final viewing]

__________________________

Graveside:

Scripture: [Scott]