Evelyn Maxine True

Evelyn M. True, age 88, of Lenexa, Kansas, went to be with the Lord on Monday, June 27, 2011, at Lakeview Village, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Evelyn was born on July 28, 1922, in Osage City, Kansas, the daughter of William A. Johnson and Selma L. Johnson. She was always proud of her Swedish heritage. Evelyn was a woman of high energy, leadership, creativity, with a joy of living which she demonstrated throughout her life. From early childhood she was an active member of the Lutheran Church in Osage City. She had fond memories of picking wild flowers, walking in the sloughs with her grandfather, and experimenting in her father’s blacksmith shop. She graduated from Osage City High School where she was very active in debate, sports, and many other organizations. Upon graduation she took a adventuresome job for a single woman at that time of traveling to sell yearbooks in Kansas, Colorado, and Mississippi. When she finally realized how dangerous this could be she moved to Kansas City and worked at Montgomery Wards, and then moved to Wichita and worked at Beech Aircraft so she could be near her future husband.

A major turning point in her life was her marriage to her high school sweetheart, Philip W. True on April 17, 1942. She moved to the east coast when Philip, now in the U.S. Army was transferred there. Following the war, the Trues lived in Topeka, Hays, and Salina (where Phil implemented dial systems for Southwestern Bell) and Kansas City (where he retired as District Engineer).

In the mid-1950s, upon moving to Kansas City she and her husband became very active at Prairie Baptist Church, where she loved teaching the four-year old Sunday School, working at vacation Bible schools, and with women’s ministries of all kinds. Whenever anyone had a need, Evelyn was always there with food, counsel, and helping hands. Evelyn was a member of “Women in Today’s World,” and represented her church to Church Women United. She served continually on all levels of leadership from the project chair who raised money all over Kansas to build a Baptist church in Tirgu Mures, Romania, to being president of the American Baptist Women’s Ministries of Kansas and the AB Central Region.

Besides being a homemaker, she started her own successful drapery business. For many years, she shared her sewing talents by teaching women at metro community centers. She also was a well-loved volunteer at St. Luke’s and Trinity Lutheran Hospitals. Evelyn loved fishing, playing bridge, square dancing, gardening, cooking (being particularly noted for her mac and cheese dish at family Christmas dinners and her Swedish meatballs, wonderful breads and desserts, though she regretted that she could never get her kids to share her love for lutefisk), and spoiling grandchildren (especially enjoying creative projects with them).

Evelyn and Phil celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2002. It was really a celebration of a unique creative team. Throughout their life together they wrote poetry, plays and skits; created puppets and characters; and made wonderful costumes such as robots, lions, tigers, and carved pumpkins and papier mache heads for children, grandchildren, and friends. They produced fabulous scenery for vacation Bible schools and church projects. They both had the gift of hospitality from their Lord and hosted many wonderful parties enhanced by beautiful displays of food, from carved watermelons to cleverly shaped relish dishes. Their home was always open to friends and neighbors. Both also had the gift of helping, working tirelessly behind scenes and ministering to others. But as a team they also took time to travel, one of Evelyn’s favorite things. Traveling both to go fishing and camping, visiting grandchildren, but also in the later years just to enjoy the scenery and spend time with friends. Now this dynamic team has been reunited.

Evelyn was an active Christian who loved Jesus and the many people He brought her into contact with. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. And she was a friend, known for her hospitality, sly sense of humor, energy, love of fun, steady disposition, and a willingness to encourage the uniqueness of each individual. She will be greatly missed by her church, her family, and her faithful friends.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her brother, Ralph Johnson; her husband, Philip; a son, William J. True; and a special great niece, Claire True. Survivors include a daughter, Jean Michelson and her husband, Paul, of Huntington, Indiana; a son, Donald True and his wife, Judy, Austin, Texas; and a daughter-in-law, Cheryl, Overland Park, Kansas; five grandchildren, David Michelson and his wife, Bethany, Tuscaloosa, AL; Paul-Philip "Paco" Michelson and his wife Hee Eun Park, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Megan True, Overland Park, Kansas; Emily True, Overland Park, Kansas; and Ann True, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and five great grandchildren, Simeon, Joel, Anna, Elisabeth, and Wills Michelson, Tuscaloosa, AL.

The family would like to express its deep appreciation for the great quality of care and love shown to Evelyn by the outstanding staff of Lakeview Village Care Center in Lenexa, Kansas. We are also grateful for the attention that Compassionate Care Hospice gave Evelyn over the last few months of her life.

Memorial contributions may be made to Prairie Baptist Church or Lakeview Village Care Center.

Memorial Service

A memorial service and celebration will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 2, 2011, at Prairie Baptist Church, 7416 Roe Avenue, Prairie Village, Kansas, with a reception to follow. A private burial will be at Leavenworth National Cemetery.