Obituary
Connie Lu Evans passed away peacefully in the early hours of December 26, 2019, in The Villages, Florida, at the age of 79.
Connie was born on October 11, 1940, to Marvin and Hester Evans in Centralia, Illinois. She grew up in the Salem, Illinois, area, along with her older brothers, Eldon Evans and Max Evans, and graduated Salem Community High School in 1958. After marrying and having children, she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse, receiving her Associate Nursing Degree from Kaskaskia College in 1972, and later her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from National University (San Diego) in 1986.
Looking back on her illustrious nursing career which took her from Illinois to California and then Texas, Connie’s fondest memories were working with the surgical team at Salem Township Hospital. She was passionate about every aspect of nursing, and shared her enthusiasm with everyone she came in contact with, even after retirement.
Connie is survived by her daughter, Kathleen (“Kat”) Ford of The Villages, FL; her son, Brian Ford of Columbia, TN; and her two dear grandchildren, Max and Ruby Ford. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, and her beloved pets – Duke, Coco and Molly.
But enough of the boring details! Connie’s legacy was far more than just a list of facts and dates. She was a fierce, feisty force of nature – a saucy, sassy rebel. She had this incredible, innate ability to speak her mind, to be brutally honest, but with a sincerity that people accepted and appreciated – a rare gift indeed.
Connie’s wit was sharp and quick, her sarcasm unrivaled. She loved to drive fast cars and tell dirty jokes. She was a connoisseur in the art of making French toast with her yummy homemade syrup. Her secret vices were raw cookie dough and black walnut ice cream. She adored rhinestones and glitter and anything with fringe – this woman was mad about her bling!
But Connie had her softer side as well – her love of animals, particularly puppies and kittens. Watching the clouds form on the horizon during an impending storm, and appreciating rainbows and sunsets. She enjoyed reading mystery novels, completing the daily crossword puzzle, and singing and dancing to Elvis tunes. But most of all, she loved her family and the many friends she made throughout her life’s journey. Connie’s legacy is etched on the hearts of everyone she touched, and the stories they share about her. Please, pass it on ……
A private service will be held, with a Celebration of Life memorial at a date to be determined. The family gratefully declines flowers, and asks that any donations be made directly to either Cornerstone Hospice Foundation at https://web.cshospice.org/foundation/giving/ or the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/nca/donate
The family encourages everyone to please visit Connie’s memorial website at http://ConnieEvans.com to share a story or a photo, or to leave a tribute. We welcome all contributions!
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