Cleta Evelyn Callahan

EVELYN CALLAHAN

Cleta Evelyn Callahan, 89, of Smithville, Mo., passed away, June 25, 2005 at the Gower Convalescent Center.

She was born in Benton County, Southeast of Warsaw, Mo., near Wisdom, Mo. on August 6, 1915, the daughter of James William and Ida Emma Jean (Scott) Suiter. Evelyn attended Mt. Hope and Freedom Schools, and graduated from Wisdom High School. She also attended CMSU in Warrensburg, Mo.

Evelyn taught school for seven years in the Benton County and St. Clair County School Districts.

In the mid-thirties she affirmed her faith in Jesus and accepted him as a guide at the Church of God near Wisdom.

On December 16, 1939 she was united in marriage to Kermit Selby Callahan of Brownington, Mo. They farmed in St. Clair and Benton Counties until 1946 when they moved to Clay County, when Kermit was employed at ADM. In 1948 they moved to the Barry Community, and in 1956 they moved Northwest of Smithville in Platte County where they made their home. Her husband, Kermit, passed away, October 15, 1991.

Evelyn was also preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Earl and Allie Suiter, and four sisters, Ida Stull, Verna Cunningham, Alma Crabtree, and Sylvia Green.

She is survived by her four sons, Roger Callahan and wife, Connie, Pleasant Valley, Mo., Russell and wife, Helen, Selby and wife Joyce and James Callahan, all Smithville, Mo., two daughters, Marna Patterson, Cameron, Mo., and Melva Ashlock and husband, Gary, Smithville, Mo., seventeen grandchildren, David Callahan, Robert Patterson, Jr. and Ronald Patterson, Michael and Laura Callahan, Gail Napoles, Matthew and Patrick Green, Jeremy and Derek Callahan, John Ramirez, Michael and John Godfrey, Kelly Peterson, David Schrage, Jamie and Jacob Ashlock, twenty-two great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

The family would like to thank the Gower Convalescent Center and Hands of Hope Hospice in St. Joseph, for the many years of great care for their mother.

Funeral Services: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday June 29th at the Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Smithville, Mo.
Burial: I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Smithville.
Visitation: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home in Smithville.

Donations may be made to Parkinson?s Foundation.