MaryEllen Evans

She was born on June 25, 1936 to Merlyn Ballard and Josie McMartin in Kaleva, Michigan. MaryEllen was raised on a farm in Kaleva. After graduating high school, she began working at the Brunswick Bowling Company in Manistee, Michigan. It was there that she met and married Harry Walker. They had three children together, Linda, Brenda and Gary.

She went to work for Standard Oil in Detroit, Michigan, where she was promoted through the ranks and eventually transferred to Atlanta, Georgia. While living in Georgia, MaryEllen became a single mother and worked very hard to raise her children. She was very strong-willed and independent. She was promoted again, and transferred to Kansas City, Missouri, where she met Dan Evans, who also worked at Standard Oil. They fell in love and created a blended family with Danny, Gina and Kami. During their time in Kansas City they fell in love with going to Royals games, the rodeo, and Branson. They also enjoyed going to Las Vegas and playing in slot tournaments. They continued their careers together at Amoco Oil, and were transferred together to Chicago, Illinois, and eventually Des Moines, Iowa, where they both retired. Coming back to Kansas City to be close to the kids and grandkids, they found their permanent home. MaryEllen and Dan loved to watch their grandkids sporting events, plays, dances and pageants, and would never miss an event. They were so involved in their grandkids lives, that they eventually gained the names Granny and Papa. They started to travel more after retirement, and would go to destinations like Hawaii, Alaska, Calgary, Florida and many other destinations. They continued playing in slot tournaments, and spent their winters in Las Vegas.

In 2002, Dan passed away. Dan was the love of MaryEllen's life, so she went back to work at The Jones Store, Magic Touch Cleaning, and Bullseye International. She continued to stay very involved in her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids lives. It wasn't until MaryEllen was in her late seventies that she finally retired for the second time.

Preceding her in death were MaryEllen's parents, Merlyn and Josie, her stepfather, Theodore Hilliard, her husband Dan, her aunt Bub, her sisters, Audrey, Donna, Bonnie, Rusty, and her brothers, Donald and Jerry. Surviving MaryEllen are her six children, Linda (John), Brenda, Gary (Trish), Danny, Gina (Eddie) and Kami (Jack). Also surviving her are her grandchildren, Brooke, Rae, Lauren, Zac, Tyler, Hailey, Madi, and Joshua, and her great-grandchildren, Lauren, Maggie, Molly, Cora, Eloise, Max, Sawyer, Cheyenne, and Milo. Additionally, MaryEllen leaves behind one surviving nephew, Tom (Elaine) and many great nieces and nephews.

A visitation for MaryEllen will be held Friday, August 2, 2024 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. A funeral service will follow at 2:30 PM. Burial will take place in Mount Moriah Cemetery South.