On January 31, 2026, at age 83, Mary Ellen Metcalf-Stewart finished the race that was set before her.

The eternal welcoming party organized by Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior, included Frank and Erma Metcalf, her father and mother. Also present in the party are James Metcalf, her brother; Daisy Stewart, her mother-in-law; and a multitude of friends. Among those not invited to the heavenly celebration are her three sons, Daniel, Lance (wife Dani Dayton), and Timothy; her three granddaughters, Sydney, Elizabeth, and Opal; her brother Gerald Metcalf; and her husband of 54 years, Peter.

Mary Ellen was born in Nampa, Idaho, and for most of the years before going to La Verne (freshman) and the University of Idaho (member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority), she lived on Lake Shore Drive on a smallholding (40 acres). She was a bit of a "tomboy," enjoying time fishing with her dad, playing softball, trapping gophers (for money), and, most of all, riding her horse.

She graduated from University of Idaho in 1964 (with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Recreation), having accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior during her senior year through the ministry of CRU. She decided to join the staff of CRU and became a missionary to students. She first worked on the campuses of the University of Colorado, Idaho State University, and the University of El Paso.

In 1968, she decided to go to England and aid in the newly developing work of CRU in British universities. She was assigned to Birmingham University. In the second year of ministry (1969), an English woman named Helen was assigned to her as a "trainee." They rented an unfurnished apartment together. Helen, who was engaged to Nigel, had been acquiring household items for their pending marriage in August 1970 and storing them at her fiancé's house. Helen suggested that they use the household items to furnish their apartment and contacted her fiancé. Nigel replied that Pete, his best mate, had a van and was willing to help move things from his home to Birmingham.

In the fall of 1969, Mary Ellen met Pete, the uneducated van owner. In January of 1970, Pete told Mary Ellen that he thought the Lord was saying that they should marry. They both agreed to pray about this. After a series of direct answers to these prayers, they agreed that the Lord was directing their relationship and became engaged on Easter of 1970.

They were married in September 1970, and Mary Ellen left the CRU staff. She became a homemaker, and her husband, Pete, operated his small electrical contracting business. They lived in Sharpstone, Freshford, near Bath. In October 1972, they moved to the USA, settling in Boise, Idaho, to provide Peter the opportunity to attend Boise State University. They rented and moved into the basement of Mary Ellen's mother, Erma's house, later buying the house and maintaining ownership there until 2022.

While living in Boise, three sons were born: Daniel (1974), Lance (1976), and Timothy (1978). Mary Ellen did a superb job of raising these boys and providing a loving, stable environment for them. In the late 1980s, after employment as a bus driver and in insurance sales, Mary Ellen obtained a teaching certificate in Special Education. She began a career of working with special needs children, the bulk of which was within the Kuna School District at Hubbard Elementary, teaching first graders. She retired in 2004 to provide support to her aging mother and became the daycare caregiver for her first granddaughter after her birth in 2005.  

In 2010, Peter retired from his main career and accepted a position in Anchorage, Alaska. Mary Ellen was in complete agreement with this change and jumped into the new adventure. They formed new meaningful relationships; went on moose, bear, and caribou hunts; went salmon and halibut fishing; and explored the land on ATVs. Of all the outdoor adventures Mary Ellen had, Pete believes she enjoyed fishing the most, and she was quite good at it.

In 2017, they returned permanently to their home in Boise. Mary Ellen continued her walk with Jesus by leading women in Bible studies, personal discipleship, prayer, and was the lead organizer for Boise in the annual National Day of Prayer. Her heart for outdoor adventures was still very much alive; while backpacking had become a little too much, ATV adventures were always welcomed. The last one was a two-day event with Mary Ellen as the pillion rider behind her 16-year-old granddaughter in August of 2025 (while she was still fighting cancer).

Since the fall of 2022, she resided in the dream home that she and Pete (husband of 54 years) had designed and built together over the preceding four years.

A special note from Pete to the love of his life reads: “It is hard to lose a wife, mother of our three wonderful sons, best friend, confidant, encourager, and wise counselor; but the pain is only caused by the wonderful adventure of the last 54 years. We ran the race together; you crossed the completion line first. I will get there in His time. Then, together forever.”

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