Evelyn L Tipton

Evelyn Lorice (Butler) Nance Kissel Tipton Evelyn Lorice (Butler) Nance Kissel Tipton went to be with the Lord on March 4, 2018. Evelyn was born Feb. 1, 1928 in Malvern, Arkansas to Walter and Ann Butler. She resided in the Indianapolis area for the majority of her adult life. Evelyn lived her 90 years to life’s fullest. She was forever youthful at heart and never, at any age, thought of herself as old. She loved nature and the outdoors whether it was admiring Earth’s beauty through a car window on a Sunday drive or out working in her yard or camping at a park. She always enjoyed the warmth of the sun while still being able to appreciate a good rain shower sent from the heavens to help her flowers grow. Evelyn had a deep-rooted appreciation for music, whether it was gospel, big band, or even rock n’ roll. She always had a song on the tip of her tongue. Her many talents included interior decorating, arranging flowers, painting and gardening. She was a fabulous cook and prided herself in her elaborate Mexican fiestas and joked about her homemade “soft” apple jelly. She loved to travel and was always up for an adventure. She had a mischievous streak in her that she openly shared with her grandchildren. Time with grandma was always an experience! Some of her favorite memories were taking her grandkids to the zoo and spending one-on-one time with them, which typically included playing cards, eating sweets and sharing stories of her youth. Evelyn was a force to be reckoned with, and when she set her mind on something, there was no changing it. She had grit and tenacity and an admirable internal strength balanced with resilience. During her long life she had lived through rough times, but never lost focus on life’s blessings. She drew strength from her faith in the Lord, and relied on the scripture and power of prayer for guidance and comfort during troubled times. Evelyn fiercely loved her family, and in her later years treasured hearing the stories of her great-grandchildren. She was industrious and never shied from hard work. As a little girl she picked cotton in the fields with her family. In her early teens, she traveled alone by train to California to find work. After she was married, she helped her first husband construct houses and harvest chickens. She was diligent in doing whatever it took to provide a good life for her family. And while she could hold her own working alongside any man, she was also strikingly beautiful and took tremendous pride in how she presented herself and care in maintaining her health. She was a huge Jack LaLanne fan, the TV exercise guru of the 50s and 60s, and she admired Dolly Parton for her strength, business savvy, and southern sass. Evelyn had the wisdom that comes with living 90 years, and a spirit that is few and far between. Evelyn is survived by two daughters: Sandra (Jesse) Craft of Terre Haute, Ind, and Donna Wagner (Craig Hilleary) of Indianapolis; six grandchildren: Carrie (Adam) Parry of Miamisburg, Ohio, Kelly (Kenny) Walker of Terre Haute, Nick Wagner of Washington D.C., Ben Wagner of Indianapolis, Heather Gilbreath of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Jonathan (Holly) Gilbreath of Bunker Hill, Ind.; five great grandchildren: Charlie, Chase and Hollis Walker and Isaac and Jeffrey Parry. She was preceded in death by her husbands J. Donald Nance, Robert E. Kissel and Harold Tipton, Sr.; her daughter Ginger L. Gilbreath; seven brothers: Kiah, Paul, Fount, Ernest, Ollie, Tommy and Kenneth Butler and five sisters: Alice Berryhill, Mamie Kirkpatrick, Onie Clardy, Lura Freyaldenhoven and Marie Clardy. Visitation will be held Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at Shirley Brothers, 9606 E. Washington St., Indianapolis. Funeral services will be at the same location on Friday at noon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin Road Church of Christ, 950 N Franklin Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46219, and Union Health Foundation, 1606 N. 7th St., Terre Haute, IN 47804.

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Evelyn L Tipton

February 1, 1928 - March 4, 2018