In Memory

Jennie Catherine Moyer (Stephenson)

Jennie Catherine Moyer (Stephenson)

Jennie Catherine Stephenson, Conroe, Texas, a great fighter for conservative values and for the Republican Party, passed away peacefully in her home with her son and daughter in law at her side on Tuesday, December 8, 2020.

Jennie was the second child of Joseph D. Moyer and Margaret A. (Stephenson) Moyer. She was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on July 3, 1947. Her life was always focused on three things: her family, her career as a social worker, and her love of politics.

As a child she moved with her family to Wichita Falls, Texas where she attended Rider High School. Jennie began her undergraduate degree at Midwestern State University where she met and married Larry Bartosh, later finishing her degree in Psychology at New Mexico State University. She gave birth to her son, David in November, 1969 in Huntsville, Alabama. Thereafter, she and Larry traveled as a typical military family would, obtaining her master’s degree in social work from the University of Hawaii in 1977. She put her education and her desire to help others to work right away, supporting unwed mothers at Booth Services in Honolulu, Hawaii.

After moving to Washington State in 1981, Jennie spent 27 years as a Psychiatric Social Worker at Western State Hospital, earning both the respect of her peers and the appreciation of the patients and families she served. During her time at the hospital, she fought the state’s compulsory union membership requirement, soliciting the help of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, who helped her win that important victory for the citizens of Washington. The Foundation honored Jennie with the John Seeley Memorial Award for her efforts. After years of supporting the Right to Work organization, she became Chairwoman of the National Right to Work Committee, which continues to fight against the coercion of unions against employees.

For most of her life, Jennie had a passion for politics where she worked tirelessly at both the local and national level. While in Washington, Jennie served many roles in both appointed and elected positions including Precinct Committee Officer, three terms as President and three terms as Secretary for the 28th District Republican Club, Co-Chair of the Pierce County Bush/Cheney ’04 campaign, two-terms as State Committeewoman, and a Republican Delegate from Washington at the 2004 Republican National Convention. She was awarded the Patriot Award in 2002 by the FreedomWorks grassroots organization, and the 2005 “Voluntines” award for extraordinary political effort by Republican Radio.

She was just getting started in politics after moving to Texas in 2014 but had already accomplished so much. She was a Board Member and the Membership Chair for Montgomery County Eagle Forum, a Republican Party of Texas State Convention delegate in both 2016 and 2018, a Senatorial District 4 delegate also in 2016 and 2018, Precinct Chair for Republican Voting Precinct #86 from 2018 through 2020, and a dedicated volunteer of the Texas Patriot PAC, the Montgomery County Tea Party, and the Montgomery County Republican Party Headquarters in Conroe. Jennie was a major force in the Children’s Hope PAC, which defeated the Conroe Independent School District’s $807 million bond proposal on May 4, 2019.

Jennie was loved by so many wherever she went. She was an active member in her church and 55+ ladies groups where she made many friends while attending numerous gatherings, enjoying local entertainment and theater events, and engaging in various church activities. Her “Girl Nite” friends have all said that it will never be the same without Jennie. She will be well-remembered for her broad smile, her love of people which perpetuated her ability to bring people together, and her zest for a well-made margarita.

In those moments when she disagreed with someone on any topic, Jennie showed the utmost respect for her friends, peers, and family by having a well-informed discussion without ever offending the other party. This trait served her well both professionally and personally, and so many of her friends have said they miss this attribute in her the most.

She is survived by her brother Joseph “David” Moyer, sister Nancy Moyer, son David Bartosh, and daughter in law Valerie Lord.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Margaret, her older sister, Martha Stephenson, and her younger brother Willam “Steve” Moyer.

A private virtual service will be held via Zoom in her honor by The Woodlands United Methodist Church on January 7, 2021 at 2 p.m., Central Time. Please share memories, stories, and photos through her son, David Bartosh, via david.bartosh@gmail.com. Stories and photos will appear on Jennie’s website at:

https://jenniestephenson.com/

The family thanks the staff at the Houston Methodist Hospital at the Woodlands, Houston Methodist Hospital at Texas Medical Center, and Houston VITAS Hospice for their expert and tender care and continued support throughout her inpatient and in-home care needs.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the National Right to Work Committee at:

https://nrtwc.org/donate/

(https://thegoldenhammer.net/great-loss-as-jennie-stephenson-1947-2020-goes-into-the-arms-of-the-lord/)