GLOUCESTER, MA: The Rev. Betty Lou (Zwemer) Ure died peacefully on Friday, August 27, 2010 at the Seacoast Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Gloucester.
Betty was born in Cleveland, OH on February 9, 1926. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1948, received an MSW from the University of Utah in 1972, and graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in 1985.
She married Roland Ure, Jr. in 1949. They lived and worked in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Salt Lake City. She was ordained in the United Church of Christ at age 59, fulfilling a lifelong dream, and served parishes in Williamstown, MA; Pownal, VT; and Columbia, MD. She moved to Gloucester, MA in 2005 to be near her youngest daughter.
Along with her professional accomplishments, Betty volunteered in many capacities throughout her life. These included the Girl Scouts, The League of Women Voters, Senior Center Boards, local charities, and ministry, church school and youth leadership, wherever she lived. She received Counselor of the Year award in Salt Lake City, UT and a community service award in Williamstown, MA. She was active in the Chesapeake Association of the United Church of Christ in MD and actively promoted interfaith programs. She loved helping people and had a wonderful sense of humor.
Betty is survived by three of her four children, Laurie Ure, B. June Ure, and James Ure, her twin grandchildren, Tess and Tom Wier, son-in-law Dr. Gil Wier, and sister-in-law Ann Zwemer. Her oldest daughter, Marjorie Wier, mother of the twins, died of cancer in 1996.
Her memorial service will be held Saturday, September 4th at 2 p.m. at the Trinity Congregational Church, 70 Middle Street, Gloucester. A service will be held in Columbia, MD at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to Heifer Project International, Hospice of the North Shore, Joseph's House in Washington, DC, the scholarship fund in the name of Roland W. Ure, Jr. at the University of Utah, or Trinity Congregational Church, Gloucester, MA.