Ethel's life began on September 2, 1940, in Millington, Michigan.  After high school, she attended Spring Arbor College and graduated from Andrews University where she earned a bachelor's degree in Education in 1969. After teaching in elementary and country schools around Flint and Port Huron, she spent 25 years selling World Book Encyclopedia in Southwest Michigan and was known in the area school systems as "The World Book Lady". In 1993, she earned a master's degree in Business Communication, also from Andrews.  In her free time, Ethel enjoyed scrapbooking, reading mysteries, doing genealogy, and decorating.  She also served on the boards for the North Berrien Historical Society and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and was very active in the Hartford SDA church.

Ethel's greatest joy was spending time with her loving family. She leaves her husband of 52 years Richard Wise, two daughters Deborah Wise of Watervliet and Suzy Wise of Valparaiso, IN, two sisters Ruth Sherwood and Phyllis Shelton, several nieces and nephews, countless friends, and a few kitties to cherish her memory.

Ethel died Thursday morning, September 20 after a battle with Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.  Her son Daniel, parents Louis and Ruth (Bentley) McClellan, and two brothers Leo and Jay McClellen precede Ethel in death.  A memorial service will be celebrated Sunday, September 23, at 5:00 PM, at the Hartford Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet is assisting Ethel's family with arrangements.  You may leave a message of comfort for Ethel's family at hutchinsfuneral.com.