Nina Birchfield

(From Nelson Funeral Home)

Nina Gale (Evans) Birchfield passed away on Friday, August 21st at her home. Nina was born March 3, 1938 in Hot Springs, Arkansas to Henry B. And Luella M. (Skelton) Evans and was the great-granddaughter of Wilson A. (Squire) Beaver, founder of Beaver, Arkansas. Nina grew up in the hills of Beaver and Eureka Springs with her friends listening to Elvis Presley on the radio, going to dances, and cruising town. Nina graduated from Eureka Springs High School in 1956.

On June 28, 1956, Nina married the love of her life, C. R. (Pete) Birchfield in Eureka Springs. Shortly after marriage the couple moved to Denver, Colorado where the first of their two daughters were born. After a few years they moved back to Eureka Springs, adding three more girls to the bunch. They settled down in their forever home, built by Pete, overlooking Beaver, Arkansas.

Nina devoted her life to her family. She sewed a lot of clothes, was a great cook, and always had a hot meal on the table. She loved fishing, shopping for a bargain, watching Westerns, and especially loved playing cards, Scrabble, and marbles, and beat us at every game! Nina was a great guesser of presents and always guessed correctly no matter how hard we tried to fool her. In 1986, Pete and Nina started Birchfield Construction and built many custom homes in and around Eureka Springs.

Nina is survived by her husband of seventy years, Pete Birchfield; their five daughters Cheryle & Rick Ashworth, Lori & B. F. Rhoads, Kim Birchfield, Stephanie Rains, and Kris Burks & Harrison Sutcliffe; as well as their ten grandchildren: Jesica & Michael Wilcox, Chelby Ashworth, Samuel Rhoads, Ethan Rhoads, Marykate (Williams) & Brandon Box, Kyle & Leslie Rains, Cole & Emma Rains , Sierra (& Zack) Burks, and Sydney (& Keenan) Burks; Five great grandchildren: Payton Harris, Madison, Mason, and Raegan Robbins, Maisie Box as well as one great-great grandson, Arlin Rains; Two brothers, Larry Evans of Eureka Springs, Truman & Barbara Evans of Pineville, MO, and Kay (Evans) & Paul Leslie of Houston, Arkansas, sister-in-law Brenda Evans, as well as a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Nina is preceded in death by her parents Henry B. and Luella M. (Skelton) Evans, grandparents Harvey and Myrtle (Beaver) Skelton, Jesse Lee, Sr. and Frances Ann Evans; granddaughter Linsey C. Williams, nephews Charles Henry (Punky) Evans, Brian Lee Evans, Christopher Leslie, and sister in-law Pat Matsukis.

Graveside services will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery, 1290 CR 228, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Arrangements under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to nelsonfuneral.com