JERSEYVILLE - Evelyn Bernice Lowder, 87, died Thursday, September 20, 2018 at her residence in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
She was born in Batchtown, Illinois on Sept. 9, 1931, the last surviving child born to William McKinley and Mary Catherine (Richter) Simpson.
Evelyn was a hard working individual, beginning her working a career as a cook at the White Spot Restaurant in Jerseyville. She later became a cosmetologist, and operated her own beauty shop, Golden Locket, out of her home on Snedeker Street. Later in life, she became a custodian for the Holy Ghost Catholic Church and School, and later for the First United Presbyterian Church both in Jerseyville.
She married John Douglas Lowder on May 10, 1948 in Jerseyville, and together they shared 51 years of marriage prior to his death on Feb. 17, 2000.
Surviving are her three children and a daughter in-law, Carolyn Morgan of Cheyenne, Wy.., Marilyn Lowderof Jerseyville, and Robert and Nancy Lowder of Jerseyville; five grandchildren and their spouses, Michael and Ruth Huff of Cheyenne, Wendy and Daniel 'Buddy' Trujillo of Cheyenne, John "J.T." Lowder ofJerseyville, and Kyle Lowder, and his fiance' Hannah Bradley of Jerseyville; five great grandchildren,Shaidyn Danyl Trujillo, Kaedyn Davenport, Abigail Ireland Huff, Amelia Peipert and Owen Lowder.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son in-law, Gordon Morgan; two sisters, Vera Blackorby and Dorothy Blackorby Schlinker; and three brothers, Joseph Simpson, William Simpson Jr. and Charles Simpson.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Friday until time of funeral services at 11 a.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.
Father Martin Smith will officiate.
She will be laid to rest alongside her husband at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery in Jerseyville.
In recognition for her love for animals, memorials may be given to the Riverbend Humane Shelter in Jerseyville.