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Evelyn Moore

January 31, 1920 - June 16, 2013
Portage, MI

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Visitation

Wednesday, June 19, 2013
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Portage Location
5975 Lovers Lane
Portage, MI 49002
(269) 344-5600
Driving Directions

Service

Wednesday, June 19, 2013
11:00 AM EDT
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Portage Location
5975 Lovers Lane
Portage, MI 49002
(269) 344-5600
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Kalamazoo Gospel Mission
448 N. Burdick St.
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

VanderSalm's Flipse
1120 S. Burdick
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
(800) 232-7134
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Print

Evelyn E. Moore was a woman with a delightful spirit and generous heart. She was sweet and considerate, caring and wise, vibrant and willing to help anyone. Cherished by the family who called her mom, grandma and aunt, Evelyn loved them all dearly and they loved her just as much.

The 1920’s welcomed one of its own when Evelyn was born to Ora and Dollie (Harring) Emerick on January 31, 1920 in Fennville, Michigan. She was in the middle of nine children: Marian (deceased as a child), Blanche, George, Donald, Lucille, Evelyn, Ora, Dollie and Rose. Evelyn had an adventuresome spirit as well as an appreciation of life’s simple pleasures. Growing up on a farm, she took delight in the smell of fresh mint and watching flocks of bluebirds flying overhead. Like other children of her generation, she helped around the farm and attended a one-room school house, yet she was fortunate to complete her high school education at a time when others her age may have had to quit school to work during the Depression. Evelyn was shaped by the values of hard work and determination. After graduating from high school in 1937 alongside her sister Lucille and her brother Don, Evelyn worked at Fennville Cannery before she and her sister Rose secured jobs with the Department of Defense in nearby South Haven during World War II.

Evelyn met her future husband Rolland Moore at a dance in Pullman, Michigan. The two fell in love and were married on January 24, 1942. Soon after, Rolland was drafted into the Army. In a romantic gesture that lasted until he was discharged in 1945, Rolland made arrangements with a florist to have flowers sent to Evelyn. But not just one bouquet, he told the guy behind the counter that he would give him all his money he had on him if he would send flowers to Evelyn every month until his return. The flower shop faithfully delivered bouquets for three years forgiving any balances owed. A great ball player, Evelyn was invited to play softball for a Chicago team during the war. Although, delighted at the opportunity, she decided to stay home and continue to work.

After the war, Evelyn and Rolland moved to the Kalamazoo area and made it home for three children: Connie, Larry (who passed away shortly after birth) and Bruce. Evelyn worked for the family business at the Firestone store and later Boat City Marine. Year by year, they also made a business out of traveling to Scottsdale, Arizona to sell Christmas trees. The two of them kept life interesting, much to the delight of their family.

When the children were young, Evelyn and Rolland took their family camping every summer where they enjoyed fishing and mushrooming, eventually buying a cabin in the Upper Peninsula. Evelyn also loved hosting family at their house on Gourdneck Lake. A great cook, everyone loved eating her famous sausage dressing, chicken and noodles and Texas sheet cake. Gatherings were all the more fun when grandchildren came along. Over the years, Tonia, Todd, Jennifer, Christy, Jeff and Scott and her great-grandchildren: Lindsay, Nathan, Ryan, Sarah, Ben, Alex, Brooke, Tyler, and Carleigh and nieces and nephews spent time with Evelyn and formed an enduring bond of love.

Among her many interests, Evelyn liked to play bingo, Solitaire and other card games with friends. She liked to read and do crossword puzzles, crochet, go bowling and watch Wheel of Fortune on TV. Evelyn was well versed in current events giving her a love for politics. She also kept up with weather broadcasts and took care to notify her family of potential storms. Her curiosity made her a lifelong learner.

When Evelyn moved to Fountain View Assisted Living, she received excellent care for the five years she lived there. She was a resident historian to the younger visitors and at the age of 93 she won the Center’s spelling bee. Not surprisingly, Evelyn was well respected and loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. The family appreciates and warmly thanks the staff at Fountain View for their dedicated care to Evelyn.

Evelyn Moore, age 93, of Portage passed away Sunday, June 16th, 2013 at Bronson Hospital. Visit with her family and friends and view her life story film on Wednesday, June 19th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Portage; 5975 Lovers Lane (269-344-5600). A funeral will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Evelyn’s family includes her children: Connie (Thomas) Casanto, Bruce (Carol) Moore; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren and her sister-in-law Winifred Emerick. She is also survived by her special friends Jim and John Van Loo to whom Evelyn thanks for bringing her fresh fish and vegetables. She was preceded in death by her husband Rolland on February 12, 2000, her son Larry and her siblings: Marian Emerick, Blanche (Ocie) Barnes, George (Kate) Emerick, Donald Emerick, Lucille (Truman) Dodge, Ora (Bernice) Emerick Jr., Dollie (Lloyd) Belden, and Rose (Ival) Jorgensen. Please visit Evelyn’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read her life story, archive a memory or photo and sign her memory book online before coming to funeral home. Memorial donations may be Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

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