Evelyn Hoover Close
Evelyn Colleen Hoover Cunningham Close was born February 23, 1928, on the family farm at Elkland, Missouri to Hiram and Ruth Hoover.
She attended a one room school taught by her father, who also farmed 120 acres on their homestead. Evelyn was the oldest of 6 children born to the family in 12 years. She was a help to her Mother, helping to care for the younger children.
Evelyn married Charles Cunningham February 2, 1946. Their daughter, Jacqueline, was born in 1948. In 1949, the family moved to Perryton, Texas. Charles started learning the building trade from Clyde Cofer, Evelyn’s great uncle, who had moved to Texas when he was 18.
Julianne was born in 1949. A year later, the family moved back to Missouri, where James Allen was born in 1951. They lived on the farm where Evelyn was born. In 1952, the Cunninghams made their final move back to Perryton.
Charles and his partner, Elvis Parker, built and remodeled homes in the Perryton area, mostly in the country.
The family was active in the First Christian Church. Charles was on the building committee when they built the new church on Jefferson. They made many lifelong friends there.
Evelyn’s sister, Marilou and Charles brother, Jim were married and moved to Pampa, Texas, which was only 60 miles from Perryton. They had five children and families got together as often as they could, since they were the only family within 500 miles.
All 3 children graduated from Perryton High School. They married and 6 grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren were added through the years.
Charles and Evelyn divorced in 1982. Evelyn married Bob Close November 22, 1982.
Charles Cunningham passed away February 1987 and was buried in the Ochiltree Co Cemetery.
Evelyn and Bob lived in Perryton until 1992, when they moved to Marshfield, Missouri, where they were close to Evelyn’s family and friends. They were active in the Marshfield Christian Church where the Hoover family had attended for years. Bob had suffered with Parkinson’s disease since 1975. In 1994, he moved to Webco Manor, where he received loving care. Bob passed away October 19, 1998 and was buried in his hometown, Shamrock, Texas.
After Bob’s death, Evelyn became a “professional” at the Ronald McDonald House and Mercy Hospital, where she rocked premature babies (she had to have a background check!)
During this time, she also traveled with family to Switzerland, Norway, Paris, and Hawaii.
As she grew older, it became difficult for her to drive to Springfield 2-3 times a week. So, she retired from volunteering. But, she was always making new friends and spending time with old ones. One special friend was her neighbor, Tom Barnes. Evelyn and Tom’s wife, Linda were good friends until Linda died from complications from diabetes. Evelyn and Tom spent many hours eating together, traveling, checking on each other.
Covid was especially hard on Evelyn. She was such a people person and she wouldn’t even go to church or the grocery store. Allen had moved to Marshfield in 2017 and became her connection to the outside world. He took her to doctors, dentists, bought groceries, supplies, meals. Jacqueline and Julianne came when they could, from Oklahoma and California.
In January, 2022, Evelyn moved to the Gardens Independent Living Center in Springfield. She had a cute apartment and as usual, made many friends, some, even if they didn’t want to.
Allen did some work on her house in Marshfield and it sold pretty quickly.
Evelyn fell in the night of February 3, 2023. She spent time at the Manor of Elfindale. Upon her release she moved to the Assisted Living at the Gardens, where she had another cute apartment and a porch.
Evelyn always had a smile and her motto was “Be Happy,” whatever the circumstances, and her favorite word was Joy!
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter, Julianne Ellis, a brother, James Elbert, who drowned in a creek when he was 2 ½, sister and brother -in-law, Marilou and Jim Cunningham, brother-in-law, Loren Fair, sister-in-law, Marthann Hoover, son-in-law, Carl Ellis, Amy Ellis Oliver, nephews Isaac Figgs and Adam Hoover.
She is survived by Jacqueline (Dale) Naylor, Balko, Oklahoma, Allen Cunningham, Marshfield, Missouri. Grandchildren, Kevin (Shelby) Ellzey, Courtney Ellzey, Joel (Emily) Oliver, Brian (Jennifer) Ellis, Braden (Maria) Naylor, Jessica (Bronn) Gibson, Joanna (Joe) Hughes, Skylyr (Chanelle) Cunningham, Natalie (Jose) Gomez, sister Melba Fair, Aiken, South Carolina, brother George (Pat) Hoover, Springfield, Missouri and brother, H.D. (Myrene) Hoover, Iowa City, Iowa. Stepchildren, Paige, Lee and Paris Close. And 20 great-grandchildren, 13 nieces and nephews.
Celebration of life will be Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. in Marshfield Christian Church. Interment will be in Pleasant View Cemetery under the direction of Fraker Funeral Home, Inc.
For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to Ronald McDonald House, 949 E. Primrose, Springfield, MO 65807.