Zelma Constance Lemmex Steward's Obituary
Zelma Constance Lemmex was born May 17, 1928 to Charles and Constance Lemmex in Wichita, Kansas. She was the youngest of 6 siblings, two brothers and three sisters. During her early childhood, the family moved to the Seattle area, where she attended schools, graduating from Ballard High School. She continued her schooling, moving to Portland, Oregon where she attended Multnomah School of the Bible. It was there she met Richard Steward, and after he finished school they were married in June, 1949 in Sprague, Washington. It was truly a case of the city gal and the country boy setting out on a lifetime of adventures that neither had envisioned as they said their vows together.
Almost immediately after their marriage, they set out on their first adventure which took them by steamship to the South American country of Venezuela, where they worked with the Orinoco River Mission. Not only were they in a new and different culture, but the language had to be mastered to live from day to day. It was during that time in Venezuela that sons Dan and Dick were born. Though not born in Venezuela, Doug would eventually join the family, the three boys providing plenty of work to keep mom busy dealing with the multitude of happenstances that little boys could get into living in a foreign country with so much to explore.
The family returned to the US in 1956 and Zelma tended to the family while Richard engaged in representing the Orinoco River Mission throughout the northwest. The family settled in Sprague, and David and Debbie were added to the Christmas portraits during that time. In the late 50’s Richard was called to be the pastor of the Sprague Community Church and Zelma became a pastor’s wife and moved into the parsonage provided by the church. She always participated in choir and cantatas, often as a soloist during her years in church work. Her influence on the development of her children’s musical skills and music appreciation are much more meaningful to them as adults than they were as practicing piano players!
In 1965 Richard accepted the pastor position at Church of the Open Door in Nampa, and the family left for Idaho. While in Idaho, Zelma remained busy being a helpmate to the church ministry, along with raising the growing clan. She was always active in children’s church, VBS and after-school programs.
In 1972 the family moved to Tacoma, Washington and the leadership of Hope Evangelical Community Church in south Tacoma. It was here that they really found a home, ministering to the multiple needs of families, providing teaching and counseling, with Zelma playing a strong role in leadership of the youngsters in the church family.
After a decade in Tacoma, with visitations and perhaps some influence from daughter Debbie in Monte Carlo, God called Richard and Zelma to far off Monaco, and furthered their spiritual influence to the international level as they began work with Trans World Radio. Zelma grasped that opportunity to support the wives and spouses of missionaries and radio staff who attended the small church in Monte Carlo. This assignment also provided opportunities to tour Europe, something she greatly enjoyed. It also gave access to the grandchildren generated from Debbie’s marriage to husband Nick, giving them family to share time with and work on their grandparenting skills.
1992 brought new changes and a return to the USA as they traveled throughout the northwest representing TWR, garnering support for the growing needs of that international ministry.
Officially retiring from the work with TWR meant living in Tacoma and slowing the pace of life. Their work over the years had allowed them to work with many powerful Christian leaders of this period of time, and to share the ministry of God’s work in the many simple ways that they practiced and modeled the character of Christ.
A series of medical issues led to both Mom and Dad living in Alaska Gardens for the past six years. God blessed our family by providing the means to make that arrangement happen. Their presence and testimony even in this small space has had a significant impact on the lives of the staff and those who now call it home.
Zelma’s influence, care and support in raising five children will always be respected and appreciated as it has played out in their adult lives. Though the extended family is widely scattered across the globe, the network of her prayers and concerns will always be remembered as part of the foundation which you see today that best represents her efforts in providing for her family physically and spiritually over the sixty-plus years that she and Richard led their family.
Mom was surrounded during her life by family including her husband, Richard, sons Dan (wife Karen), Dick (wife Sue), Doug (wife Maribeth), Dave (wife Jan) and daughter Debbie (husband Nick); grandchildren Michelle, Scott, Jonathan, Joshua (deceased), Ben, Joel, Jeff, Laura, Jordan, Matthew, Ethan, Tonya, Michael, and Gabrielle and for those counting, 13 great grandchildren.
What’s your fondest memory of Zelma?
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Share a story where Zelma's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Zelma you’ll never forget.
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