Liby Wortman

Liby Dale Covington Wortman died on February 4, 2012. Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the St. Alban's Episcopal Church, officiated by the Reverend Jeff W. Fisher and the Reverend Frank B. Mangum. Visitation will be 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Boulevard.

Bural will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

Liby was born on February 26, 1929, in San Marcos, Texas - the only child of the Reverend Don Orsino Covington and Elizabeth Scott Covington. She received her early education from the public schools of Prairie Lee, Texas and Kenedy, Texas. She began her high school years in Kingsville, Texas and finished in Port Arthur, Texas.

She met Walter Russell "Pat" Wortman at Baylor University in 1948. They were married on December 20, 1949, in a ceremony performed by her father who was pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Port Arthur. Although he did not include the word "obey" in the bridal promise, she was a faithful and loving wife for 62 years.

Liby graduated from Baylor University in 1950, with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education and in 1982 with the degree of Master of Science in Education. Her first teaching job was in Moody, Texas where she taught first grade. She and her husband then moved to Beaumont, where they raised their children. She was active in many church and civic organizations, but her favorite job was being a Mother. The family moved to Waco in 1967. She was hired by Mr. M. T. Rice as a 6th grade teacher at Midway ISD, where she taught until her retirement in 1994. On her desk, she kept pictures of her two daughters as sixth graders so she would always remember to be the kind of teacher she would have wanted for her "girls." Many honors came her way culminating in being named Teacher of the Year by faculty of Midway ISD in 1991. She accepted the honor by crediting her fellow teachers as being equally deserving of the award. Her picture graced the cover of the Waco phone book that year.

Being the daughter of a Baptist preacher, Liby was a devout Baptist for most of her life. In later years, she joined the Episcopal church and enjoyed singing in the wonderful choir lead by the late Robert Young. For the past several years, she has enjoyed singing with the grand people of St. Alban's choir, under the capable direction of long-time friend Howard Thompson. She had long said that when she got to heaven, she would sing Handel's "I Know that My Redeemer Liveth."

One of the signal experiences of her life was her studies with Bible Study Fellowship. She loved the women she met there and was particularly blessed when 300 women sang, "Here I Am, Lord."

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Pat; her daughters, E'Lynne Elliott and husband Alan of Duncanville, and Patti Mitchell and husband Greg of Midland; and grandchildren Angela Gough and husband Ryan of Honolulu, Hawaii, Scott Simpson of Dallas, Katy Mitchell of Odessa, Mary Elliott Skinner and husband John of Dallas, and William Elliott of Dallas.

Her grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

Memorials may be sent to Midway ISD Education Foundation, 13885 Woodway Drive, Waco, Texas 76712 or to St. Alban's Episcopal Church Pipe Organ Fund, 305 N. 30th Street, Waco, Texas 76710.