Elizabeth was born September 13, 1919 on a farm south of Creighton, Cass County, MO. She was the second daughter of James Upton and Ora Mae (Kepner) Ewing.
At an early age Elizabeth accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She had been a faithful member of the Bronaugh Baptist Church since 1947. Elizabeth graduated from Creighton High School in 1937 where she had attended all twelve years. At age seventeen she completed the state teacher’s exams and received the Missouri State Teachers Certificate and taught six years in rural schools. Elizabeth received her BA in 1956 and her MA in 1963 from Pittsburg State University. She taught in Liberal for 13 years and in Nevada for 19 years. She enjoyed teaching and the wonderful experiences shared with students, parents, and fellow teachers.
On April 18, 1940 Elizabeth married Hugh Allen Houk. Hugh and Elizabeth farmed near Bronaugh. They were the proud parents of Helen Marie and John Allen.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Hugh; son, John Allen Houk, Sr.; brother, James Paul Ewing; sisters, Hallie Louise Ewing Andras and Helen Ruth Ewing Crouse; and her parents, James Upton and Ora Mae Ewing. She is survived by her daughter, Helen Marie Simons (Mark) and grandson, Tyler Allen Simons of Wyoming; daughter-in-law, Linda Louise Conway Houk; grandson, John Allen Houk, and great-granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Houk of Bronaugh, and grandson, Nathan Clark Houk (Leslie) of Seymour, MO.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Ray Dean Scism officiating. Interment will follow in Newton Burial Park in Nevada. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home.
