Evelyn G. Karr

Karr, Evelyn G. 94 of Plainwell, MI formally of Richland, MI & Cass City, MI Evelyn was 94 when she passed away on Saturday, April 14th, 2007 in the Plainwell Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Comm. where she had been a resident for over 7 years. She was born on July 16, 1912 in a farm home near Gagetown, MI. Her parents were William and Clara Hutchinson Simmons. She attended the Bingham Country School, a one room schoolhouse, south of Gagetown and went on to graduate from Cass City High School in Tuscola County, MT. On June 15, 1931 she was united in marriage to Orville Karr and they were married for 65 years before his death, November 8, 1996. They started their marriage as farmers in the thumb of Michigan. In 1943 they moved to Kalamazoo County at the Upjohn Farms. They remained residents of Richland Township for over 50 years. During World War II, Evelyn studied nurses aid work and joined the Grey Lady Core to help the war effort by baking cakes and cookies to send to Percy Jones Veterans Hospital. Evelyn and her husband also helped work an annual Victory Garden the Upjohn Farms grew, which helped feed the Upjohn employees and the Sisters of St. Joseph at Nazareth during the war. In 1946 Evelyn and her husband purchased a farm north of Richland and while her husband went into business for himself, Evelyn operated a small grocery and gas station. She made baked goods to sell, dipped ice cream and sold groceries and gasoline. During the early 1950?s, Evelyn and her husband established Richland Gardens and for 40 years sold perennial plants, flowers, fresh vegetables and fruits from their farm. She canned and froze fruits and vegetables and taught her daughter and grandchildren her skills. She was the source of delicious family recipes and has passed them on to many of her friends and relatives. Evelyn was close to her grandchildren and loved to help care for them as they grew up. Surviving is one daughter, Valaire Jane Stahl of Kalamazoo; four grand-daughters, Susan Lawrence of Richland; Debra and Richard Zesiger of Galesburg; Laurie and Richard Smith of Kalamazoo; Lynn Mohney of Kalamazoo; two step- grandchildren, Lynn Ward of Brownstown, MI; Joanna Craik of Boynton Beach, FL; ten great grandchildren; Robert, Jonathon, Sarah Lawrence; Amy, Andrew Zesiger; Emily, Tyler Smith; Dale, David, Lauryn Mohney; two step great grandchildren; Kyle Ward, Gabe Harbaugh. In addition to her parents and husband, Evelyn was preceded in death by one brother, Elmer Simmons in 1965 and son-in-law, Robert Stahl in 2005. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will take place Saturday, May 5, 2007 1:00 PM at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 5. Burdick, Kalamazoo with Rev. James Hill officiating. A visitation will take place from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, immediately prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to Plainwell Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Comm., 3260 East ?B? Ave., Plainwell, MI 49080. The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to the staff on the eighth floor in Borgess Hospital for Evelyn?s superior care.