Evalyn Mary Gebhart

Evalyn Mary (Huffman) Gebhart, 84, of Hermitage TN, died at home on February 10, 2017.

Visitation will be on February 14, 2017 from 5-8 p.m., at Hibbett and Hailey Funeral Home in Donelson, TN. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Andrew Price Memorial United Methodist Church in Donelson on February 26, 2017, at 2 p.m.

Eva was born in Dallas, TX on July 31, 1932, to Harriet and Harold F. Huffman; they later moved to Metropolis, IL, which was Eva's home until college. She graduated from Metropolis Community High School in 1950. Eva graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1954 and a Masters of Education in 1956. Eva met her husband of 60 years, John Howard Gebhart at university, and they were married June 17, 1956.

Eva’s passion was to cultivate the Body of Christ, and she did this as a United Methodist minister’s spouse, through a 46-year career as a teacher, through her devotion to mission programs supported by the United Methodist Women, and through her warmth, openness and sincere interest in everyone she encountered throughout her 84 years of life. In short, Eva never met a stranger, only friends she hadn’t met (W. B. Yeats).

Eva was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Gebhart, her parents, Harold F. and Harriet Hazel Huffman, and her sister, Elizabeth Hickman. She is survived by her children Amy (Michael) Curtis, Lucy Gebhart, Perry (Jane) Gebhart, and Sally (Andy) Pardue; her nephew, John Hickman; and her eight grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association or Andrew Price Memorial UMC (Missions Programs).