Evelyn Ruth Shepherd

Evelyn Ruth (Lewis) Shepherd, 90, of Kansas City, Missouri went to meet Jesus on December 31, 2014. She was a resident of the Spring River Christian Village Nursing home in Joplin, Missouri for the past two years. Evelyn was born on June 15, 1924, and grew up in Shenandoah, Iowa. She moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1950 where in 1953, she married Neal E. Shepherd. Over the course the next 61 years they resided in Martin City, Eldorado Springs, Kansas City, Shawnee Mission, Independence, Clinton, Joplin and Neosho, Missouri. Besides spending time with family and friends, some of her favorite things to do in life were to buy and sell antiques, go to rummage sales, have rummage sales of her own and travel to various parts of the country. Before marrying Neal, Evelyn worked for various clothing stores, hardware stores and as a switchboard operator for Bell Telephone. In 1959, Evelyn and Neal adopted their only child, Linda Sue who grew up to be the love and happiness of their lives. Evelyn was Methodist by faith.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Emit and Viola Lewis of Shenandoah, Iowa; sisters Dorothy Alvis of Lancaster, California, Dolita Johnston of Kansas City, Missouri, Delouse Pitner of Tarkio, Missouri and one brother E.L. Lewis of Kansas City, Missouri. She is survived by her husband Neal E. Shepherd of Neosho, Missouri; daughter Linda Sue Cushing and son-in-law Tom Cushing of Neosho, Missouri; grandson Josh Cushing of Neosho, Missouri; sisters Mista Harms of Rockport, Missouri, Lavaun Hainsworth of Concordia, Missouri, Nedra Griffith of Kansas City, Missouri; brother-in-law Leland Shepherd; sister-in-law Cecelia Shepherd; nieces Susan Robbins, Sharon Brown, Sheleen Gayler, and Shelia Buchan; nephews Robert Alvis, Keith and Kevin Griffith, Kirk and Steve Lewis, Terry Hainsworth and other nieces and nephews by marriage.

Services for Evelyn will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, January 5, 2015 at Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131. The family requests that graveside services be private. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Evelyn’s memory to The American Cancer Society at 3208 East 12th Street, Joplin, Missouri 64801.