Evelyn Reeves

Mary Evelyn Reeves received Jesus Christ as her Savior and followed His teachings as the guide for her long fruitful life. She was born May 26, 1924 in Happy, Texas to Sap and Pearlie Harrison as the second of four little girls. On July 31, 1944, when she was 20 years old, Evelyn married Ray P. Reeves to whom she was married for 25 years. They had a child every five years: First Susan in 1945, then Janet in 1950, and Phil in 1955. During WWII, Evelyn would write letters across the ocean where Ray served as an airplane navigator. He was wounded as his airplane was shot down in combat over the Pyrenees Mountains in Europe. Following the Great War, they started their life together working the Texas Panhandle. Evelyn worked for IBM putting her husband through law school and starting her family. During her child rearing years, Evelyn attended Saint Andrews Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas where all her children were confirmed. After Evelyn’s last child was grown, she enrolled in the Houston Community College. She studied while working and was awarded an Associate’s Degree in Business. Evelyn was a working mom who enjoyed a 32 year career with Shell Oil Company. She retired from Shell Oil Company in 1986. She had a great time retiring -- After 32 years there were lots of friends and parties. With the extra time she had the chance to travel to many places around the world: China, Russia, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, and more. She also traveled lots of times to North Carolina to visit her daughter Susan, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They also made countless trips to visit Evelyn and Texas family. But something was happening in her heart – it kept calling her to serve underprivileged children. So after much prayer and soul searching she decided to start being a foster mother. She had already had experience as a foster grandmother to the eight foster children her daughter Janet had. But now she took the full responsibility of raising abused children. At one time she had four little girls – whom she loved and cared for like her own. For several years Evelyn was able to take care of her mother and sister who had Alzheimer’s disease. She did a great job and set a good example to everyone of how to care for our elders. In the summer of 1997 after Evelyn turned 73 she adopted Michelle – just turning 11 years old. Evelyn had raised Michelle since she was 3 years old. In 2010, when Michelle was 24 and Evelyn was 86, Michelle and her husband Tony along with their three children moved in with Evelyn. They and the children provided a wonderful environment that Evelyn enjoyed. Especially with the small grandchildren around Evelyn, those were a happy four years. But that’s not all Evelyn has served so many people in so many other ways. Just a few: Elder visitations with Sheltering Arms. Weekly visitations to the nursing home to help people get to chapel. Literacy training for non- English speakers. Countless hours serving at the church’s Thrift Shop and Food Pantry. Working for the sightless making braille books. It seems growing up during the Great Depression while the soil of mom’s heart was being prepared, a burden was placed there to want to help the needy. Evelyn always took her prayer life seriously. She prayed for her whole family which includes four children, ten grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

With Evelyn’s memory in decline, she needed specialized care. The wonderful caregivers at Solona Vintage Park gave her four years of comfortable care and all their kindness was appreciated by the family. They also provided a very comfortable hospice care for four months before her passing. At Solona she loved everybody and everybody loved her and they all called her Momma.

A life lived start to end in love, in service, and in faith.

Contributions in Evelyn's memory may be made to St. Mark Lutheran Church , 1515 Hillendahl Blvd. , Houston, Texas 77055, stmarkhouston.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com for the Reeves family.