Elsie Marie Bridgman Proudfoot of Midway, TX, closed her earthly Book of Life and opened a heavenly Book of Life on Monday, September 22, 2008. She was born January 31, 2008 to Stoddard Franklin Bridgman and Rosa Mabel Zuspann near Ewing, Lewis County, MO.
She attended Gilead Elementary school east of Ewing and Graduated from North Central Bible College in 1943 and Central Bible College in 1946 majoring in Child Psychology.
She was the second born child of what became a family of twelve. The oldest, a son, died at birth. She saw 6 more brothers and 4 sisters grace the family and assisted in washing the last born, Lena.
As a young lady in 1946, she embarked by ship to what was then India, which became East Pakistan and is today Bangladesh, as a missionary to children from the Assembly of God Church in Palmyra, Marion Co., MO. She spend 1946-1961 in that foreign country coming home to visit and go back to her calling. In 1948, she received news that her father had passed away.
She was married in England on October 14, 1961 to James Proudfoot who preceded her in death in November 1989. She and her husband came to USA and they were ministers in various areas in Missouri as well. Her mother, Mabel, passed away in May 1979 at which time they moved to Pennsylvania. The couple had no children but were houseparents for Bear Foundation for Troubled Youth.
In 1995, she moved to Conroe, TX to live with her youngest sister, Lena, and be close to her other sister, Nadine, there. Over the years she often told stories of her childhood and with the encouragement and help of Lena, she wrote three books, “Deep in the Heart of Potatoes, Deep in the Heart of Them Thar Hills, and Deep in the Heart of Bangladesh.” Neighborhood children and her nieces and nephews near Conroe gathered often to hear her stories. The first two books were of her childhood and her religious upbringing and the third of her experiences in preparing to go to India and her experiences there. She sold her books at grocery stores, book stores, schools or any place that would let her sit all day and sell her books, all the while ministering to those who cared to listen.
In January 2000, she and one of her nieces, Carol Tatman, returned to Bangladesh for a visit. She was excited to see the results of her labors there. She had started a Bible School there and many of the natives remembered her.
In 2001, she moved with Lena and her husband, Bill, to Midway, TX. In May 2008, she suffered from bad circulation in her legs and got staph infection and spent 3-1/2 months in the St. Joseph Hospital in Madisonville before being moved to Madisonville Care Center, Madisonville, TX in August. On September 22, she had a massive stroke from which she could not recover. Sharing her last moments on earth were four generations: her sister, Lena; niece, Rose Ann Dickey; grand niece, Bethany Greening; and great grand niece, Izabella Rose Greening.
She attended Elwood Baptist Church for a number of years close to her home. She was everyone’s rock and stabilizer and those who knew her will miss her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, 6 brothers, Raymond, Joe, Robert, Glenn, Benjamin and Enoch; 3 sisters, Wanda McKinney, Emma Paugh and Nadine Schriener. She is survived by Joshua Bridgman of Palmyra, MO and Lena Truster of Midway, TX (Elwood community). Her many nieces and nephews will miss her greatly as well.
She attended Gilead Elementary school east of Ewing and Graduated from North Central Bible College in 1943 and Central Bible College in 1946 majoring in Child Psychology.
She was the second born child of what became a family of twelve. The oldest, a son, died at birth. She saw 6 more brothers and 4 sisters grace the family and assisted in washing the last born, Lena.
As a young lady in 1946, she embarked by ship to what was then India, which became East Pakistan and is today Bangladesh, as a missionary to children from the Assembly of God Church in Palmyra, Marion Co., MO. She spend 1946-1961 in that foreign country coming home to visit and go back to her calling. In 1948, she received news that her father had passed away.
She was married in England on October 14, 1961 to James Proudfoot who preceded her in death in November 1989. She and her husband came to USA and they were ministers in various areas in Missouri as well. Her mother, Mabel, passed away in May 1979 at which time they moved to Pennsylvania. The couple had no children but were houseparents for Bear Foundation for Troubled Youth.
In 1995, she moved to Conroe, TX to live with her youngest sister, Lena, and be close to her other sister, Nadine, there. Over the years she often told stories of her childhood and with the encouragement and help of Lena, she wrote three books, “Deep in the Heart of Potatoes, Deep in the Heart of Them Thar Hills, and Deep in the Heart of Bangladesh.” Neighborhood children and her nieces and nephews near Conroe gathered often to hear her stories. The first two books were of her childhood and her religious upbringing and the third of her experiences in preparing to go to India and her experiences there. She sold her books at grocery stores, book stores, schools or any place that would let her sit all day and sell her books, all the while ministering to those who cared to listen.
In January 2000, she and one of her nieces, Carol Tatman, returned to Bangladesh for a visit. She was excited to see the results of her labors there. She had started a Bible School there and many of the natives remembered her.
In 2001, she moved with Lena and her husband, Bill, to Midway, TX. In May 2008, she suffered from bad circulation in her legs and got staph infection and spent 3-1/2 months in the St. Joseph Hospital in Madisonville before being moved to Madisonville Care Center, Madisonville, TX in August. On September 22, she had a massive stroke from which she could not recover. Sharing her last moments on earth were four generations: her sister, Lena; niece, Rose Ann Dickey; grand niece, Bethany Greening; and great grand niece, Izabella Rose Greening.
She attended Elwood Baptist Church for a number of years close to her home. She was everyone’s rock and stabilizer and those who knew her will miss her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, 6 brothers, Raymond, Joe, Robert, Glenn, Benjamin and Enoch; 3 sisters, Wanda McKinney, Emma Paugh and Nadine Schriener. She is survived by Joshua Bridgman of Palmyra, MO and Lena Truster of Midway, TX (Elwood community). Her many nieces and nephews will miss her greatly as well.
Her remains were cremated to be send back to Jonestown, PA to be scattered on her husband’s resting place.
Memorial services with a potluck dinner will be conducted at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at Elwood Baptist Church Fellowship near the junction of OSR and FM 2346 with Rev. Glenn Conner in charge of services. Those who knew her will share their marvelous experiences of having known her. The public is invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your church missionary group or your favorite charity.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your church missionary group or your favorite charity.
1 comment:
She was a phenomenal lady and I can't wait to see her again in heaven.
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