Evelyn Juanita (Fulton) Jackson, age 96, of Carthage, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2016. Prior to this year, she was a survivor and fighter of 8 strokes, thyroid tumor, knee replacement, and breast cancer! She fought to live life to the fullest!
Evelyn graced the world with her presence on December 18, 1919 in Wymore, Nebraska, born on the family farm, the daughter of Earl “Whitey” Fulton and Gladys (Lawson) Fulton. She graduated from Wymore High School in 1937.
At the age of 20, she married Joe Jackson on February 10, 1940 in Westmoreland, Kansas. He precedes her in death by 20 years on September 7, 1996 at the age of 78. Together they had 3 children, Michael James, Donald Joe, and Sherry Ann.
She was a member of the Episcopal Church in Carthage. Joe and Evelyn lived on a farm and owned a business in Wymore, Nebraska until 1957 when they moved to Carthage. They owned and operated a fiberglass boat and vault manufacturing business in Carthage, and then owned and operated the Freeway Café, Bar and Liquor Store on Range Line Road in Joplin, Missouri until retiring. Instilled with an incredible work ethic, Evelyn would light up when she would tell stories of working in the café and all the customers she came to know and love, and all the homemade pies she would make at their personal requests. Her favorite flowers were white roses, her favorite drink was the whiskey sour, she enjoyed watching golf on TV, and she loved playing poker with family – after every holiday meal the dishes would be immediately cleared for the family games to begin. Evelyn would holler “whose got money!?” She had a habit of adopting stray animals, she grew the best garden of fresh veggies, and was an amazing home cook. No matter what you had to eat that day (on your own), it wasn’t good enough and you were gonna eat again.
It’s ok if you didn’t know Evelyn, she would still pat strangers on the arm or backside and she could talk your leg off! Her loving heart was often spilled out onto paper in her wonderful letters to her loved ones often enclosed in every birthday/holiday card. She enjoyed music and dancing – even in her 90’s she would be seen dancing in the halls while she hummed her own tunes.
Evelyn’s smile would light up a room, her infectious laughter (and occasional snort) was easily recognized, and she will forever remain notorious for her orneriness. She gained the nickname “Hotrod” at St. Lukes Nursing Center in that she was always on-the-go, never sat still, and would often hit the doors to sound off the alarms, running away laughing and clapping for the entertainment of the other residents.
She is survived by a sister, Betty (Fulton) Bingham of Sioux City, Iowa; a daughter Sherry Allan (husband Tim) of Carthage; a son Donald Jackson (wife Judy) of Prairie Village, Kansas; a son Michael Jackson (wife Carol) of Seneca Falls, New York; 6 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many friends and loved ones too numerous to list but not forgotten.
In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Donald Earl Fulton.
Family will celebrate her life at a private memorial service. Cremation is under the direction of Knell Mortuary in Carthage. Private burial will be held in Wymore, Nebraska at a later date.
Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com. Memorial gifts are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or to the American Breast Cancer Foundation.
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