Evelyn Beardmore

Evelyn Beardmore, 102, of Ellsworth, KS, formerly of Waukon, IA died Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Ellsworth, KS. She heard Leonard playing "Fascination" and knew it was time to join him in the dance. A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held Thursday, August 10th, at 11:00 AM at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church. Inurnment will be at the church cemetery, both in rural New Albin, IA. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wednesday at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Mt. Hope Cemetery Fund.

Mary Evelyn was born to Harry and Sarah (Evans) Leas on December 22, 1920, in Waterville, Iowa. She and her three siblings Dale, Neil, and Lucile were raised on a 160-acre farm, where the family raised chickens and hogs and grew oats and hay. Evelyn walked two miles each way to a country schoolhouse, graduated from Waterville High School in 1939, and moved to Waukon shortly after graduation. Evelyn worked several different jobs until she began working at Larsen's Dry Cleaners, a job she loved for 24 years. On October 14, 1956, she married Leonard Beardmore at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church. They were happily married for 39 years until Leonard's death in 1995.

Evelyn was an active member of Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church for 54 years and served as Presbyterian Women's (Ladies Aid) secretary for 49 years. She helped with the church's harvest dinners and ice cream socials. Many pies were baked for these events and sour cream raisin pie was her specialty. Following her retirement, Evelyn volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. She also kept busy with quilting and crocheting. Evelyn and her sister Lucile moved to Ellsworth, Kansas in 2010 to be closer to family.

She is survived by her sister Lucile Palmer and many nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leonard, brother Dale and wife Bernadine, brother Neil and wife Darlene, and brother-in-law Merton Palmer.