Evangeline Sheffer

CAIRO, Ill. -- Evangeline Augusta Adams Sheffer, 106 years and 8 days old, went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, at 4:35 p.m., at Daystar Care Center in Cairo.

Eva was born Aug. 26, 1903, in rural Cypress in Johnson County, Ill., to Lemuel and Sarintha Ferguson Adams, the youngest of nine children.

She was united in marriage to Lauden Hurst Sheffer on July 28, 1932, in Murphysboro, Ill. They resided in Johnson County until 1934, when they moved to Olmsted. Together they shared 38 years before his unexpected death by May 5, 1972.

Eva's life dream was to be a teacher and to spark creativity in her students. Cypress did not have a high school, so she repeated seventh grade three times and eighth grade twice to continue her education. In 1921, Cypress began a two-year high school, and she completed those two years and began her teaching career as an uncertified teacher. She then attended Southern Illinois Normal during the summers of 1926 and 1927, a teacher's college, earning enough credits to obtain her state teaching certification. She received her certification in January 1931. Her teaching career included Cedar Grove, Mount Pisgah, Greenbriar and Olmsted Gore schools, also teaching one year in the head start program in Mounds, Ill. Her love of teaching extended to her children and grandchildren, tutoring most of them at some point during their school years around the kitchen table.

Her hobbies included gardening, canning, cooking, quilting, reading her Bible, playing the organ and visiting with anyone who would drop by for a cup of coffee. She was involved in writing the history of Olmsted for the 1976 bicentennial celebration and oversaw the making of a community quilt for this event. She was also the Olmsted news reporter for the Cairo Evening Citizen for many years. She loved her church and was active in the Caledonia Baptist Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher to the adult class. Her greatest loves were God and her family. She was known as "Mawmaw" to her grandchildren and most people in the community.

Eva was blessed to be survived by her four children, Mary (George) Taylor, James Robert (Glenda) Sheffer, Ruth (Earl) Myhre and David (Sherry) Sheffer; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three brothers, five sisters and a grandson, Dennis Taylor.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Barkett Funeral Home in Mound City, Ill., and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Caledonia Community Church in Olmsted.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the church, with the Revs. John Windings and Buddy Walls officiating. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery in Dongola, Ill.

Memorials may be made to Caledonia Community Church.