Evelyn Rebecca Cherry

Evelyn Rebecca Cherry, 93 of Kokomo, Indiana passed away on Friday, June 30, 2023. She was born in Gallatin, Tennessee on April 26, 1930 to William A. Kendall and Flora B. (Clancy) Kendall. She married Delbert C. Cherry on February 21, 1948. They were married for 63 years when Delbert passed away on October 31, 2011.

Evelyn was a member of Kemp United Methodist Church in Tipton, Indiana for 30 years and a member of First United Methodist Church in Okeechobee, Florida for 25 years. Evelyn and her husband were very active in their church, serving as greeters on Sunday. She was a member of Ruth Circle FUMC in Okeechobee and served as Treasurer. Evelyn retired from Delco Electronics in Kokomo in 1983 after 30 years. They built a new home in Okeechobee, Florida where they retired and lived for 25 years before health issues caused them to move back to Indiana.

Evelyn was a wonderful cook. She cooked and served all sorts of vegetables grown in the family garden. While living in Florida she liked to cook up crappie and bluegill for friends and family that Delbert had caught in Lake Okeechobee. She was an expert seamstress, making many things over the years for her and her daughters to wear. Evelyn grew up as a child of the Great Depression, making her thrifty and a very hard worker. She took great pride in everything she did. She was the best daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, aunt and friend you could ask for. She was kind and generous with herself and her time.

Evelyn is survived by daughters, Wanda Abney and husband Butch (Wayne) of Russiaville, Indiana, Loraine Swope of Kokomo; a son, Dewaine and wife Roseanne Cherry of Arcadia, Indiana; a sister, JoEdna Bardonner of Arcadia, Indiana; a sister-in-law Margaret Ann Kendall of Elwood, Indiana; grandchildren, Tom Abney and wife Andrea of Kokomo, Bob Lancette of West Palm Beach, Florida, Chris Lancette and Elesia Ricke of Perrysburg, Ohio, Amity (Cherry) and husband Joel O’Connell of Chicago, Illinois, Brendan Cherry and wife Patricia of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Shannon (Cherry) Hildebrand and husband Jay of Noblesville, Indiana.

She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Lauren Abney and Mason Spencer, Allison Abney, Keagan Hildebrand, Samuel Hildebrand, Nora O’Connell, Tatum Hildebrand and Zoe O’Connell, with another grandchild arriving in August; great-great-granddaughter, Charlotte Spencer ; many nieces and nephews who were very special to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings and spouses, Estelyne (Kendall) Plumblee and her husband Bennie Reed Plumlee, James Kendall and his wife Jean Kendall, Earl Kendall and his wife Joyce, brother-in-law, Charles Bardonner, Elmer Kendall; in-laws and their spouses, Gladys (Cherry) Smith and her husband Charles, Clarence Cherry and his wife Evelyn, Iva Cherry and husband Yate.

She had been in hospice for six years with Compassus. We would like to thank all the nurses and aides she had over the years. They were all kind, caring and compassionate to her.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Young- Nichols Funeral Home, 216 W. Jefferson Street, Tipton, Indiana 46072. Evelyn’s funeral services will be at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 6 at the funeral home. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until time of the service on Thursday. There will be a private family burial at Fairview Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Evelyn’s name to Hospice and Palliative Care COMPASSUS, 2626 South Webster Street, Suite B, Kokomo, Indiana 46902.