Obituary for Evalie Breeding
Evalie Breeding, 99, departed this life at Sparta Lifecare Assisted Living on September 20, 2022.
Evalie was a native of Smyrna, Tennessee. She was a late Christmas present born December 26, 1922. Her parents were William Crawford Ridley and Mary Emma Young Ridley. She had three older brothers Gip, Sam, and Knox. Her older sister was Janie.
Evalie was a very petite person, and she was blessed with a vivacious personality and a great sense of humor.
She attended Tennessee College for Women in Murfreesboro. Her professional career took her to Europe for some time. Then she joined the staff of Estes Kefauver and lived in Washington D.C. While she was a personal secretary to Kefauver, he was running for re-election. Fate stepped in then. Bob Breeding from Sparta was the Upper Cumberland District Campaign Manager for Senator Kefauver. There was a campaign meeting set up in McMinnville with Evalie, Bob, and Kefauver all in attendance.
The rest is history. Evalie and Bob married March 3, 1961. Evalie found her place in Sparta as a new wife and partner as well as mother to Bob's young son, Robert, and daughter, Jackie. (The children's mother had been lost to cancer.) Evalie later adopted both children. She helped Bob in his insurance business as well as keeping books for some other small businesses. When Bob became Mayor, Evalie worked tirelessly entertaining and feeding many prospective industries personnel.
Evalie, Bob, and the children enjoyed many happy hours at the boathouse at Center Hill Lake swimming, skiing, boating, and fishing. During retirement, Evalie and Bob still had a lot of fun with playing tennis and golf. They also loved to play bridge tournaments.
Evalie was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sparta. She loved caring for the babies in the nursery.
After Bob died in 2012, Evalie stayed in Sparta for two years. When her health began declining, she moved to Morning Point in Brentwood to be closer to Jackie. After Jackie's unexpected death in 2019, Evalie moved back to Sparta to Sparta Lifecare in assisted living. Her family is most grateful to the staff for the loving care Evalie received there.
Evalie is survived by son, Robert and his wife Ann, as well as granddaughters, Libby Breeding and Kristin McCord. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Louise Breeding Young, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Per Evalie's request, there will be no formal funeral. She requested only a graveside service.
Graveside Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at Oak Lawn Memorial Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com
Evalie was a native of Smyrna, Tennessee. She was a late Christmas present born December 26, 1922. Her parents were William Crawford Ridley and Mary Emma Young Ridley. She had three older brothers Gip, Sam, and Knox. Her older sister was Janie.
Evalie was a very petite person, and she was blessed with a vivacious personality and a great sense of humor.
She attended Tennessee College for Women in Murfreesboro. Her professional career took her to Europe for some time. Then she joined the staff of Estes Kefauver and lived in Washington D.C. While she was a personal secretary to Kefauver, he was running for re-election. Fate stepped in then. Bob Breeding from Sparta was the Upper Cumberland District Campaign Manager for Senator Kefauver. There was a campaign meeting set up in McMinnville with Evalie, Bob, and Kefauver all in attendance.
The rest is history. Evalie and Bob married March 3, 1961. Evalie found her place in Sparta as a new wife and partner as well as mother to Bob's young son, Robert, and daughter, Jackie. (The children's mother had been lost to cancer.) Evalie later adopted both children. She helped Bob in his insurance business as well as keeping books for some other small businesses. When Bob became Mayor, Evalie worked tirelessly entertaining and feeding many prospective industries personnel.
Evalie, Bob, and the children enjoyed many happy hours at the boathouse at Center Hill Lake swimming, skiing, boating, and fishing. During retirement, Evalie and Bob still had a lot of fun with playing tennis and golf. They also loved to play bridge tournaments.
Evalie was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sparta. She loved caring for the babies in the nursery.
After Bob died in 2012, Evalie stayed in Sparta for two years. When her health began declining, she moved to Morning Point in Brentwood to be closer to Jackie. After Jackie's unexpected death in 2019, Evalie moved back to Sparta to Sparta Lifecare in assisted living. Her family is most grateful to the staff for the loving care Evalie received there.
Evalie is survived by son, Robert and his wife Ann, as well as granddaughters, Libby Breeding and Kristin McCord. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Louise Breeding Young, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Per Evalie's request, there will be no formal funeral. She requested only a graveside service.
Graveside Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at Oak Lawn Memorial Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com