Evelyn Davis Van Ness was the sixth of seven children born to James Madison “Mack” and Laura Ellen Douglas Davis, at the family farm in Wright County, Missouri, on June 26, 1930. She left her earthly home to be with her Lord on September 27, 2024.
Evelyn gave her life to the Lord and on the fourth Sunday in October 1941, she was baptized in the Gasconade River by the pastor of the Antioch Baptist Church, Alva Morris.
Evelyn was united in marriage to Vernon Nixon “Jack” Van Ness. Six children were born to this union.
Preceding her in death were her parents, an infant brother, James Wesley Davis, twin sons, Gary Dale and Larry Gale Van Ness, her husband, Jack Van Ness, her grandson, Brandon Milligan, sisters, Flora Johnson, Elsie Philpott, Eula Campbell, and Geneva Tracy, brother, Howard Davis, three nieces and two nephews.
Her large beloved family who survives are four daughters, Sherry Beasley of Seymour, Brenda and husband, Vince Turner, of Springfield, Carolyn and husband, Mike Humphrey, of Sahuarita, Arizona, and Kathy and husband, Eddie Calhoun, of Mansfield; seven grandchildren, Gary II and wife, Julie Milligan, of Tallahassee, Florida, Terry Beasley and husband, Kirk Penner, of Seymour, Tammy Beasley and husband, Kelly Robertson, of Springfield, VanNessa Hulme and husband, Derek Silbermann, of Santa Clara, California, Kassondra Calhoun and husband, Brandon Lansdown, of Springfield, Sarah Hulme of Tucson, Arizona, and Jennifer Calhoun and husband, Tyler Rummens, of Mansfield; thirteen great-grandchildren, Gary Milligan III of Springfield, Cheyenne Milligan of Tampa, Florida, Annalise Milligan of Tallahassee, Florida, Allyson Penner and husband, Wint Watwood, of Talladega, Alabama, Hailey Penner of Springfield, Lydia Milligan and husband, Zack Clark, of Springfield, Emily Milligan and husband, Jacob Cote, of Springfield, Sophia Lansdown, and husband, Kyle Forgey, of Mansfield, Corban Lansdown of Springfield, Jack Rummens, Vivienne Rummens, and Luke Rummens all of Mansfield, and step great-grandson, Collin Robertson of Springfield; seven great-great grandchildren, Hailey Milligan, Matthew Milligan, and Nancy Milligan of Strafford, Missouri, Zelda Clark and Atticus Clark of Springfield, Anya Cote and Jacob “Jack” Cote II of Springfield; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
