Ethel Elizabeth Emery Wakeman - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier 9/16/10

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Ethel Elizabeth Emery Wakeman - Madison Parish, Louisiana 

From Baton Rouge Advocate, September 16, 2010

Ethel Elizabeth Emery Wakeman
 
She died peacefully at her daughter's home Monday, Sept. 13, 2010, at age 94. Ethel was born 
in Natchez, Miss., grew up in Tallulah and resided in Baton Rouge for more than 70 years. 

Ethel graduated from Hammond High School and attended Southeastern Louisiana College for one year. 
At that time, she was accomplished at playing the violin. Ethel was very good at spelling and 
taking shorthand, so she became a legal secretary for Spencer & Sevier in Tallulah. Ethel moved 
to Baton Rouge to work as a secretary in the Attorney General's Office in the new State Capitol. 
In 1942, Ethel married Thomas Augustus Wakeman at First Presbyterian Church and became a full-time 
homemaker. 

As a young mother, Ethel always read to her children and sang to them. She also helped in Sunday School. 
In 1954, while pregnant with their fourth child, Ethel cared for her terminally ill husband. He was 
determined to live to see the baby. He died exactly a month after bringing Ethel and their new baby 
daughter home from the hospital. As a widow, Ethel became a secretary at the East Baton Rouge Parish 
School Board office. Even as a working mother, Ethel continued to read to her children and share 
classical music with them. Ethel retired on her 70th birthday. After retiring, Ethel served as a 
volunteer storyteller at Goodwood Elementary School and the Goodwood Library. After becoming a Mormon, 
she enjoyed teaching 4-year-olds every Sunday for many years in the Baton Rouge Second Ward of the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

Ethel was a patron of the Baton Rouge Symphony and enjoyed bringing her grandchildren to concerts and 
encouraging them to enjoy classical music and to play violin as she did. She also enjoyed listening 
to Metropolitan Opera on WRKF. 

Ethel is survived by a son, Gus Wakeman, two daughters, Carol Wakeman Vogel and Mary-Ethel Wakeman Theriot, 
and their spouses. She is also survived by five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. We, her children, 
know our Mommy is now enjoying being reunited with our Daddy, who preceded her in death by 56 years. 
Our sister Janeen, who died 50 years ago, is also welcoming Mommy to heaven. Knowing their joy, we 
are overflowing with gratitude for the atonement of Jesus Christ and for the blessing of being sealed 
in The House of The Lord as an eternal family. 

Graveside services on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 10 a.m. at Baton Rouge National Cemetery. Arrangements 
by Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St.