Evelyn Johnston

Evelyn Beatrice McPherson was born June 30, 1920 to Hugh Duncan and Effie Mary (Calkins) McPherson at their home in Hooker County Nebraska. Evelyn was the youngest of 13 children. When Evelyn was just 6 weeks short of her 4th birthday, her mother Effie Mary, died in Grand Island, Nebraska. Evelyn started school at a Sand Hills country school located between Mullen and Seneca Nebraska. In 1927, Evelyn moved with her father and sister to a location near Hayes Center Nebraska. When Evelyn was in the 6th grade, Hugh made arrangements for Evelyn to stay with and work for Elva "Tots" and George Kittle while she continued to attend school in Hayes Center. Tots and George Kittle had three boys, Keith, Bernard and Carl. The Kittle boys and Evelyn soon developed a brother and sister type of relationship. Evelyn continued to live with the Kittles until she graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1938. Evelyn was joined in marriage to Clifford Fletcher in 1939. Two children were born to this marriage, a daughter Janet and son Louis. Evelyn later married Oliver Johnston and to this union a daughter, Donna was born.

Oliver and Evelyn and Donna moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1964 where Oliver was employed by the Swift company ice cream plant. In 1972, the family moved to Curtis, NE. Evelyn was a cook at Medicine Valley High School from 1972-1984. She called Curtis home and lived there until Oliver's death in 2001. Later that year Evelyn moved to Kenesaw, NE to be near her daughter Janet Harpham. Evelyn lived in Kenesaw until shortly before Janet's death in 2004. She then moved to the Imperial Manor in Imperial Nebraska in 2003 to be near her daughter Donna Vlasin. Evelyn also spent two years at Good Samaritan care facility in Hastings, NE and had returned to Imperial in October of 2008.

Evelyn was active in the United Methodist church of Curtis and was a member of the United Methodist Women for many years. She was active in card club and enjoyed playing cards with friends and family. Oliver & Evelyn spent countless hours in there flower and vegetable garden. Evelyn canned much of the produce and quite often there was bouquet of flowers in their home. She enjoyed cooking, cross stitch, camping and fishing with family and spending time with her grandchildren and attending their activities.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her first husband Clifford Fletcher, second husband Oliver Johnston, son Robert Johnston, daughter Janet Harpham, and grandson Mark Johnston.

Survivors include Louis Fletcher and wife Betty of Aledo, Tx, son-in-law Ron Harpham of Kenesaw, NE, Lou and Jane Johnston of Blue Springs, MO, Doug and Phyllis Johnston of Florance, AZ, Bonnie Goodson of Broken Arrow, OK, Donna and Randy Vlasin of Imperial, NE, nineteen grandchildren and forty great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Sunday, October 26, 2008, form 1-8 pm, with the family present from 6-8 pm at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Curtis, Nebraska.

Funeral services will be held at10:30 am on Monday, October 27, 2008at the United Methodist Church in Curtis, Nebraska, with Pastor Lana Fong officiating. Burial will take place in the Curtis Cemetery.

Memorials made to the family: PO Box 834, Imperial, Nebraska 69033.

Online condolences can be given at www.blasestrauser.com