Eva Jones

Eva (Ellison-Bacon) Jones passed away Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23, 2006 at 1:33 a.m. at her home in Springfield with members of her family in attendance. She was a long time sufferer of heart disease and Alzheimer's. She was 88 years of age.

Born Evangeline Eleanor Ellison on February 8, 1918, in Ava, Mo., Eva moved with her parents and three sisters to Colorado in the 1920's. There, her father died of a kidney ailment in 1923, and her mother was killed in a car accident in 1927, so she and her sisters moved back to Ava where they were raised by their grandparents. Eva moved to Springfield in the 1930's to attend Senior (Central) High School. She lived in a boarding house across from the school, where she worked, cooking and cleaning for her "keep." Many times she was in such a rush to get to school she forgot to remove her apron, thus she received the title "hard working Eva" as noted in the school yearbook.

During her senior year, Eva met and fell in love with a young, red-haired, football player named Roy Bacon. They were married after graduation and made their home in Springfield. Together, over the next 24 years, they shared their lives and their love with their 12 children. Eva worked as a full time wife, mother, and nursing student during this time. Graduating from LPN school in 1960, she worked at Burge Hospital and later City Hospital. Tragedy struck when Roy died suddenly in 1961 and Eva, at 43, was left alone to raise the seven children who still lived at home.

Five years after Roy's death, however, Eva met and fell in love with the pharmacist of City Hospital named Burley Jones. They married in 1966 and moved to his farm in Fair Grove, Mo. Together they loved and raised the remaining five children. They enjoyed fishing at Lake Pomme de Terre and traveling together, even going to Europe one summer.

As grandchildren began to arrive in Eva's life, she took them under her wing, loving them and teaching them. She taught them to fish, play cards, and even to paint. One time she "captured" several turtles from the woods and with washable paints and brushes she and the kids painted their shells before letting them go. Eva was happy on the farm and fearless. Once she picked up a black snake which was trying to eat a baby rabbit and by holding it upside down and shaking it, she was able to make the snake drop the rabbit. She said she loved babies, all babies, and couldn't stand by and see one injured.

In 1978, Eva discovered her talent for drawing and painting. Over the next 17 years, she created hundreds of beautiful works of art. Many of these she donated to local Fair Grove businesses including the bank and fire station, where they remain today. Some she donated for auction to the PBS TV station. She won many ribbons at the fair. One of her best paintings was her re-creation of the Old Mill at Fair Grove.

Eva was deeply spiritual and deeply religious. For 29 years, she attended church at St. Joseph's Parish in Springfield. She then changed to Sacred Heart Parish after moving to Fair Grove. Eva went to Mass almost daily. A painting of Sacred Heart Catholic Church that she did, still hangs in the vestibule.

In her "spare" time, Eva volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul's and made beaded rosaries for the Catholic missions throughout the world. She was often seen at Mass distributing her rosaries to anyone, especially the children, who didn't seem to have one of their own. She made thousands of rosaries in her lifetime.

Eva's second husband, Burley, passed away in 1994. He was 90 years old. Once again, Eva moved to Springfield. In 1996, Eva had open heart surgery, after which she required a lengthy recovery period. She was frequently surrounded by her family and friends, all of whom were very important to her. And she continued to make rosaries until her eyesight began to fail due to macular degeneration and debilitating arthritis stiffened her fingers. Eva began to show signs of Alzheimer's disease and almost over night her memory faded. She threw away her hearing aids and flushed her dentures. She required 24 hour companionship to prevent her from wandering away from her home. During this time, she "adopted" a new "baby." This little vinyl doll became her constant companion. She fed the "baby" from her own plate. She slept with the "baby." She even did CPR on the "baby" because she thought it had died. She was such a good mother. Though her eyes are closed for good now, we will always remember the twinkle in them and the toothless grin she gave so freely to all she met.

Eva was preceded in death by her children, Phyllis Garrison, of Kansas City, Marion Bacon (stillborn), and Patricia Stout of Springfield; her two sisters, Gola Platz of CA, and Bonnie Law of Iowa.

She leaves behind her sister, Margie Fuzzetti of AZ; her children, Dr. Jim Bacon, of Fredericksburg, TX, Bonnie Armstrong (RN), of Morrison, CO, Grace Walsh (RN), of Springfield, Mary Baker, of Springfield, Greg Bacon, of Springfield, Joey Bacon (LPN) of Springfield, Bill Bacon of Fair Grove, David Bacon of Las Vegas, NV, Richard Bacon, of Rogersville; 24 grandchildren; and 30 great grandchildren. She will be lovingly missed.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 29, 2006 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Francesco Iacona, CMF celebrant. Burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, near Fair Grove, under the care of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home with Rosary services starting at 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Online condolences can be made at www.hhlohmeyer.com.