Evelyn L. Greebon

Evelyn Jean Love Greebon went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 2, 2021, at the age of 94. Evelyn was born in Blanco, Texas on August 4th, 1926. Nothing from her childhood of hard work on the farm, or having to walk to school barefooted, could have predicted how her extraordinary life would unfold. She graduated from Blanco High School in 1943, and married the love of her life, Glenn Edward Greebon, Jr. that same year, at the age of 17. After marriage, Evelyn attended nursing school, and graduated as an R.N. in 1946. Following her husband, as his career took them to several different cities, Evelyn worked in various hospitals over a 20-year period. She worked in the operating room, recovery room, labor and delivery, and at the VA Hospital. She also taught nursing in both Longview and Houston.

In 1968, her life changed course, when she was chosen by Manor Care to open and run Sharpview Nursing Home, where she became the Administrator. With a brain and a drive that knew no bounds, so began a career that would change her life, and that of many others. She became the Regional Manager for 3 Manor Care Nursing Homes in 1971. In 1975, Evelyn, as secretary of the Houston Nursing Home Association, began working with O.L. Pitts. With his help, she became a business owner. She opened her first 120-bed nursing home in Houston. She later opened several other nursing homes in the Houston area, with the help of her son, Rex, for a total of 720 beds. In typical Evelyn style, she poured her heart and soul into these facilities. She became well known in the nursing home community, as having some of the finest, and well-run nursing home facilities in the area. She worked into her 70’s, when she sold the nursing homes, and started her retirement years.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Glenn Edward Greebon, Jr. who passed away on June 10th, 1998. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Ida Love, and all of her siblings, though she was the oldest. She helped care for them when she was young, and took on something of a motherly role to them as time went on. They were Orval Love (Mildred), Dorothy Love Williams (Monte), Richard Love, Jr. and Lester Love (Jean Ann). Evelyn is survived by her three children, Dr. Daryl Trent Greebon and wife Ronnie, Rex Edward Greebon, and wife Mayra, and Cynthia Greebon Willson. Evelyn’s beloved grandchildren are Deborah Greebon (Laith Abduldayem), Daryl (Trent) Greebon, Jr., John Ward (Lisa), Randie Faulkner (Preston), Layne Riley, Camille Greebon Murphy (Micah), Cristina Greebon Schulman (Jacob), Cameron Meiers Willson, Connor Holt Willson (Allison), and Gates Prewitt Willson (Meg). Evelyn was blessed with 12 great grandchildren - Natalie Murphy, Mason Murphy, Mary Murphy, Kyleigh Schulman, Kole Schulman, Kacie Schulman, Kannon Schulman and Konner Schulman, Salma Greebon Abduldayem, Peyton Faulkner, Landon Faulkner, and Breydon Faulkner.

Evelyn and Glenn loved to travel, and did so often, traveling to 40 countries and throughout the United States. Glenn’s favorite thing to do after retirement was to plan their trips. Evelyn often didn’t know the itinerary until they were on the way, and trusted her husband to plan every detail. Besides traveling, Evelyn loved to cook and sew, and she was extremely good at both. Oh, how she loved to feed the people she cared about, and you better eat a lot, and go back for seconds. Nothing made her happier than to see her people enjoying food that she had prepared. She also loved to sew, mostly for herself and her daughter, Cynthia. She made full maternity wardrobes for Cynthia, complete with work clothes and casual clothes – twice! She also enjoyed sewing for her grandchildren, and for charity. She was very happy when her granddaughter, Cristina, showed an interest and aptitude for sewing.

She was highly motivated to accomplish things, and that she did. She became a Stephen’s Minister at Memorial Drive Methodist Church, and was involved in that ministry for several years. After the death of her beloved Glenn, she became the President of Lifeline, a group for widows and widowers. She belonged to various book clubs, and the New Horizons Sunday school class at her church. Evelyn was fiercely independent, and didn’t want anyone to have to take care of her. In later years, it became necessary to sell her home, and move to an Independent Living facility. It was at this time that she made the move from Houston to Plano, where her son, Dr. Daryl Greebon and wife Ronnie (both retired) graciously offered to oversee her care. Evelyn knew she was most fortunate to have children who would care for her, and especially a physician son, who could make things happen that the rest of us couldn’t. Despite her knowing she was well taken care of, that didn’t stop her from telling us how to do it, and the care staff too! No doubt, the staff at her final home, Prestonwood Court Assisted Living, had no idea the nonagenarian lady named Evelyn, who wanted to do everything all by herself, had been such a force of nature in her prime. Come to think of it, she probably told them. Evelyn was not shy. She was a study in contradictions – a woman who could run a chain of nursing homes, yet she still cooked every meal, served it up, and even cut up Glenn’s food at times. She also loved to help others, whether it be a nurse who wanted to advance her career, a son who wanted to learn the nursing home business, a daughter who needed maternity clothes, or preemie babies who needed booties and hats, which she made by hand into her early 90’s. Her ability to function at such a high level in so many areas, was a real motivation to those around her. She expected nothing but the best from herself, and from others. Her legacy will be that whatever you put your mind to do, you can accomplish it. No excuses, no whining, just get up and get it done. She definitely left her mark on the world, and it was a good one.

Pallbearers: Cameron Willson, Connor Willson, Gates Willson, Walter Willson, Trent Greebon, Micah Murphy, Jacob Schulman, and Charles Johansen.

Services will be at Forest Park Westheimer, 12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston.

Visitation/viewing – Saturday, January 9th 4-6pm

Funeral service – Sunday, January 10th 10am

Reception at the funeral home will follow services

To view the services virtually, please visit their website @dignitymemorial.com

Any donations in Evelyn’s name, can be made to Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive, Houston

Funeral service will also be broadcast on Facebook Live at the following link: https://m.facebook.com/ForestParkWestheimer/

After the service you are invited to join the family in in the reception room for a light meal.