Evelyn A. Jackson

Evelyn was born October 3, 1919, the second child of James Humphrey Lewis and Mildred Mae Park Lewis, in the Methodist parsonage in Carmen, Oklahoma. When she was a young child, the family moved outside the town of Mulvane, KS and then to Wichita. She began first grade one month prior to her 6th birthday in a one-room schoolhouse. She graduated from Wichita East High School in 1938. She was an excellent student, earning A’s while helping to take care of her younger sisters. When she was in high school, two of her teachers invited her to live with them and cook and clean for them. She enjoyed that time because she had her own bedroom for the first time in her life.

Evelyn married Forrest Vincent Jackson on June 4, 1939. They welcomed a son, Forrest Dean, in July of 1940, and a daughter, Doris Jean, in August of 1944.

Evelyn was active in her children’s activities, serving as a room mother and a Scout leader. She made sure her children learned to swim, and she provided them with piano lessons, art lessons for Forrest, and expression lessons for Doris. When Doris graduated from elementary school, Evelyn wrote a story using the last names of everyone in the class.

Evelyn made every birthday and holiday special. She made cherry pie for Washington’s birthday and put a small flag in every piece when she served it. For Independence Day, she made “Old Glory Ham Loaf” and placed a pineapple ring in the upper left-hand corner with 13 cloves in the ring. She made Christmas very special with a homemade gingerbread house and special decorated sugar cookies. She let each child choose the kind of cake they wanted for their birthdays, and she planned parties for their birthdays and other occasions. Evelyn always made her children’s friends welcome in her home.

Evelyn was active in her church community, taking and leading Bible studies. She was a member of the TWS Sunday school class at Calvary United Methodist Church in Wichita. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.

Evelyn had her health challenges along the way. She had pneumonia and bronchitis when she was 13 and was bed-bound for two months. In 1940, she suffered a spinal injury and eventually needed a spinal fusion. She suffered a stroke in her 50’s but recovered completely.

Evelyn married Gifford Seevers November 29, 1986. From that union, she gained a stepdaughter and three step-grandchildren, whom she loved as much as her own children and grandchildren.

Evelyn was always up for a challenge. She won a water-skiing contest when she was 44 and took a hot air balloon ride at the age of 75. When she was 65, she traveled alone to Red Bird Mission in Kentucky and worked as a volunteer for a month so that the regular office administrator could have a vacation. During her lifetime, she visited all 50 states and every continent except Australia and Antarctica. She traveled to Canada, Mexico, Germany, Austria, Israel and Egypt.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Frank, sisters Marjorie, Willadean, Oleta, Mildred, and Louann, her nephews Ricky Carney, Steven Carney, Jerry Harvey, and Warren Jackson, and her niece Vicki Stoner. She is survived by her son, Forrest Jackson (Pat), daughter, Doris Housh (Dave), stepdaughter Joyce Benedick (Ken), grandchildren Greg Jackson (Laila), Stephanie Jackson and Deanna Likes (Ryan), step-grandchildren Andrea LePon (Les), Jesse Benedick (Emily), Savanah Welch (Theron), Monica Hudson (Jeff), great-grandchildren Aileen Jones (Kevin), Jay Jackson, Alan Jackson, Ira Likes, Therin Moon, Stevie Goodwin and Ashley Casey; many nieces and nephews, great-grandchildren, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great grandchildren and great-great nieces and nephews. They all affectionately called her “Auntie Ev.”

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 28, from 10:00 - 11:00 AM at Monticello United Methodist Church, 23860 W 75th St, Shawnee, KS 66227.  A funeral service will immediately follow at 11:00 AM. Interment will take place on Thursday, October 29 at 11:30 AM at Wichita Park Cemetery, 3424 E. 21st St, Wichita, KS 67208.

Mom loved to wear hats. If you are planning to come to her service, feel free to wear a hat to honor her if you so choose.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial gift to Monticello United Methodist Church or to the church or charity of your choice.