Louise Villemain Wier

ODESSA — Louise Wier passed away Tuesday, April 13, 2004.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 16, 2004, at First Baptist Church in Odessa with the Rev. Bill Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Services entrusted to Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors.
Louise Villemain Wier was born February 5, 1910, in Pipe Creek, Texas.
Louise graduated from Bandera High School and received a scholarship to what is now The University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas. She went out to teach in one-teacher schools. If there was no church in the community, she got permission to use the schoolhouse for Sunday afternoon Bible study and worship services. Older boys and girls and teenagers, as well as some adults, were led to faith in Christ as Savior.
Later she taught in larger schools and spent the summers working in churches in Texas a week at a time. Hearing of her work Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary granted her a full scholarship with two free lessons a week in piano and voice. After two years, she graduated with a Masters Degree in Religious Education. With further education, she had thirty hours towards a Doctorate of Education.
Following seminary she worked six years as a State Worker in Texas in Sunday school and Training Union. She also served as a Minister of Education in Park Avenue, now Second Baptist Church in Corpus Christi.
Louise moved to Odessa in 1946 when she married Raymond D. Wier. They soon began working in Missions. The first was what is now Primera Baptist Church. Later they helped start a mission in Ranchito addition. When Ranchito Mission grew into Jerusalem Baptist Church, Louise was one of the speakers at the organization.
From 1983 to 1996, she traveled in 41 countries on all five major continents, plus Australia and New Zealand. She has worked in churches in India, Korea, Nassau in the Bahamas, Lima Peru and Brazil. Soul winning was her main objective and many people were won to Jesus.
She was an active member of Law Wives and Downtown Lioness Club. She continued to be active in Odessa Christian Women, AARP and Ector County Retired Teachers Association.
Soon after she retired in 1975, she served two years as president of the local Retired Teachers, three years as District President, one year on the nominating committee of the State Retired Teachers, two years as chairman of Retirement Committee of State and then received an appointment from National Retired Teachers to be Assistant State Director for West Texas.
For many years she led Bible Study and Service in Avalon Place Nursing Home. For 68 years she taught in Sunday School. For years she worked in Training Union. She cared about people and loved all people of all races no matter what their station in life.
She will be missed by many who knew her and loved her.
She is survived by two sons, David Wier of Abilene and Terry Wier of Dallas; and four grandchildren.