Evangeline Smothers

Evangeline "Eva" Deliah Smothers, age 105, of Largo, FL passed away September 26, 2016 peacefully at her home in Teakwood Village, Largo, Florida. She was born August 3, 1911 in Benton, Illinois to John and Alma Burgess Sharp. She was the oldest of eight children. In 1926 she moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan to work at the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital. She married Earl Layman Smothers on February 7, 1927 in Kalamazoo. They celebrated 75 years together with a large celebration on February 7, 2002 at Teakwood Village. Earl passed away on January 10, 2003 just before their 76th anniversary. Eva retired from Kalamazoo State Hospital in January, 1970 and had wonderful retirement years of traveling, cruising, playing Bingo and enjoying dances, dinners and socializing with friends. She is preceded in death by husband, Earl; parents, John and Alma Sharp; siblings, Virgil Sharp, Juanita Hambright, Laveda Hambright, Quincy Sharp, Burford Sharp, Revola Jones and Rosetta Nap. Eva is survived by two children, Dwane Gene (Mary) Smothers of Magnolia, Texas and Sharon Elaine Miller of Largo, Florida; grandchildren, Sheila (Donald) Carr of Gleneden, Oregon, Diane Smith of Galesburg, Michigan, Rita (Douglas) Bailey of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Richard Earl Smothers of Magnolia, Texas; step-grandchildren, Kenneth (Brenda) Miller of Okemos, Michigan, Kimberly (Patrick) Ondrus of Lansing, Michigan, Kritie (Robert) Taber of Okemos, Michigan; sixteen great-grandchildren, thirteen great-great-grandchildren, three great-great-great grandchildren. Visitation will be held at noon on October 5, 2016 at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick Street, with service to follow at 1 p.m. Rev. James Dyke will officiate with interment in Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to a local hospice organization.