Longtime resident of the Ava area Eva Garrison, the daughter of Charles Arthur Gifford and Mary (Keele) Gifford, was born Sept 27, 1923 in Kane, Wyo., and departed this life April 27, 2007, at the age of 83.
Eva was a longtime resident of the Ava area. On Dec. 20, 194l Eva and James Edward Garrison were united in marriage at Dogwood. Eva and Edd were blessed with five children.
Eva was employed as an assembly line operator for many years with Rawlings Sporting Goods. She taught Sunday school for many years and was a devoted church worker. Eva was a member of the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. She loved her family, the farm and flowers. Eva wrote the Fairview news items for the Douglas County Herald for many years.
Eva was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a daughter, Mary E. Dinwiddie, one grandson, Bradley Lawson, one granddaughter, Stacey Lawson, two great-grandsons, Shelby Snyder and Jessie Levan, one sister, Amanda Gifford, and two brothers, James and Charles Gifford.
Survivors include, three daughters, Joyce I. Duke, Ozark, Janice Stewart and husband Steve, Springfield, and Edna Lawson, Springfield; one son, J.R. Garrison and wife, Pam, Seymour; one son-in-law, Leslie Dinwiddie of Florida; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; one sister who was raised by Eva from an infant, Clarice B. Williams and husband, Bob, Springfield; two sisters, Ellen Moody and husband, Nolan, Longmont, Colo., and Priscilla Bowers and husband, Gene, Springfield; two brothers, Paul Gifford, Cabool, and Joe Keele and wife, Sharron, Cody, Wyo.; one sister-in-law, Nola Gifford, Ava; and many friends and neighbors.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Jerry Ragsdale officiating. Interment followed in the Dogwood Cemetery, Ava.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Assoc. or Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneralhome. com.
