Evalyn Lee Roberts

Evalyn Lee Roberts was born to Harold & Gladys Stone on October 9, 1925. She departed this life at 8:00 AM on May 8, 2011. She will be missed by all those privileged to have known her. Courage, loyalty and devotion are words often used in citations of noble deeds performed under very difficult circumstances. These terms also describe the life of Evalyn (Stone) Roberts.

Evalyn grew up during the great depression and learned to love God and family and to work hard. These values remained with her all the days of her life. Life was not always easy for her or her family. Things and situations were constantly changing but the changes never slowed her down or turned her mind from the things that were good and proper. Her life demonstrated the ability to adapt to those changes and move forward.

During World War II, while the young men of the area were serving in uniform, Evalyn provided service to her community in a different way. She received an Emergency Teaching Certificate from Arkansas State College and taught school. Her teaching experience included a one room school house at Lunsford and 3rd grade at Bay. After the war, she also used her experience as an assistant teacher when she lived in Florida with her family.

After she married O.N. Roberts on May 26, 1946, she devoted most of her attention to family issues. Her husband’s job as flight engineer for Eastern Air Lines took them from Arkansas to Memphis, New York and Florida. During that time, Evalyn had four children and taught them family values and service to God. In the 1960s, the Roberts family moved back to Arkansas where Evalyn adapted to the life and duties of the farm.

Her children grew up to have families of their own and mom was always available to help in any way she could. She often provided parental duties for her grandchildren and is recognized in the mother’s role for one of her granddaughters.

Although she was a good cook, and Sunday dinners quite often found the family once again gathered around her table. Although she performed the normal household choirs inside, Evalyn’s real love was when she worked outdoors. Summer would often find her working in her garden or riding the ‘Gravely’ mowing the lawn.

Evalyn’s sweet smile served her well all of her life. That smile brightened lives during visitation of the sick and bereaved as well as during social events. She was an active member of the Bay United Methodist Church Women’s group. She served others as opportunities presented themselves and encouraged others to do the same. She was full of love and no one ever had to ask if her heart was in her work.

She also loved traveling and after retirement, she and her husband, O.N. Roberts, traveled extensively within the United States. They also made one trip to Europe to visit family and travel in 1986 and for several years, spent the cold winter months in Harlingen, Texas.

Evalyn was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a daughter, Mrs. Debra Hinds and one grandson. She is survived by a brother, Mr. Bill Stone of Bay, Arkansas, two sisters, Fleta Gacki of East Lancing, Michigan and Marjorie Smith of Doniphan, Missouri. She is also survived by two daughters, Carrol Lee Greer of Bay, Arkansas and Marian Janet Morrison of Belleview, Nebraska a son, Gary Norris Roberts of Bay, eleven grand children, nineteen great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Arrangements include family visitation at Bay United Methodist Church on Thursday, May 12, 2011 from 5-8 PM with the funeral service to be 10:00 AM Friday morning at the Bay United Methodist Church and Emerson Funeral Home in charge. Burial will follow at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.