Evelyn Ruth Poole

                Evelyn Ruth Poole, age 90 of Park Rapids formerly a long time Osage, MN area resident, peacefully passed into eternal life on Tuesday afternoon,  August 7, 2018, at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids.

                Evelyn was born on January 19, 1928, in Hartford, CT to Nathan and Beatrice (Cunningham) Wilson.  As a child, Evelyn moved with her family to Jacksonville, FL where she attended public schools, graduating from high school with the Class of 1946.  Evelyn met Maynard E. Poole, a young man working at the Cecil Naval Air Station, at a church picnic.  It was love at first sight, and the two were married on May 16, 1947.  Their marriage was blessed with four children: Michael, Robert, Rebecca, and Julia.  She devoted herself to making a loving home for her husband and children. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa where they made their first home until 1960, when they then moved to Osage, MN where they finished the important work of raising their family.  She was a wonderful cook and baker who will be long remembered for her delicious homemade fried chicken and her Holiday dinner parties and family picnics.  Over the years she baked and decorated many birthday and wedding cakes.  She would often work late into the night sewing clothes for her children and grandchildren including formal prom and wedding dresses.  In addition, Evelyn would sew doll clothes to give as gifts to her loved ones and friends.  For many years, Evelyn worked as a fire spotter for the MN DNR at the Smoky Hills Fire Tower.  Later she worked for many years as a bookkeeper for the Texaco Bulk Fuel Distributor in Detroit Lakes, MN.  Evelyn was a woman of strong faith in her Lord and Savior.  She enjoyed worshipping at the Osage Baptist Church, which is now known as the Grace Community Church, where she served as organist and sang many solos. Evelyn also served as the treasurer of the Osage Town Board for many years.  She was also a member of the Osage Ladies Group for many years. Evelyn enjoyed being involved with the TOPS Group #MN800 of Park Rapids.  She was a talented artist and enjoyed creating beautiful oil paintings and doing ceramics.  In her spare time, you would often see Evelyn with a book as she was a prolific reader.  Her life was deeply saddened by the death of her youngest son, Robert in 2002 and her dear Maynard in 2003.

                She will be lovingly remembered by her three children: Michael (Mary) Poole of Park Rapids, Rebecca (Rodger) Petrie of Osage, MN and Julia (Randy) Stone of Brandon, South Dakota; nine dearly loved grandchildren and numerous precious great-grandchildren; as well as one great-great-grandson; her sister, Barbara Kane of The Villages, FL and her brother, Tom Wilson of Ponte Vedra, FL; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

                Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Maynard; son, Robert, her parents; one brother, Sonny and one sister, Mary Margaret.

                Funeral services will be held 11 AM Saturday, August 18, 2018, at the Grace Community Church of Osage with Rev. Paul McKibben and Rev. Ken Polley officiating.  The organist will be Evelyn’s long-time friend, Dorothy Crook and the soloist will be Lynn Just.  The eulogists will be granddaughters: Michelle Niksich and Melonie Randall.  The casket bearers will be her grandchildren.  Honorary casket bearers will be: Paul & Kay Joyce, Nikki Wenger, Chuck, and Jan Marquardt and members of the TOPS Group #MN800   Interment will be made next to her husband in the Riverside Cemetery of Osage.  Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 PM Friday, August 17 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home and will continue on Saturday beginning one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday.  A luncheon will be hosted by the Grace Community Church family.  To leave online condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com