Evelyn Joyce Huskey O’Neal
Evelyn Joyce Huskey O’Neal, 91, of East Ridge went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 19th.
She wore many hats over the course of her life - daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She lived a long and full life, prioritizing the thing that was most important to her: her big family.
The Huskey clan was a close-knit group. Between Evelyn Joyce and her four siblings, they had 16 children who grew very close as cousins, all living near one another throughout their childhoods. Evelyn, her siblings and all of the kids would often spend summers camping together and Sunday afternoons at Mama and Papa Huskey’s house.
As her children got older and had families of their own, Evelyn started going by a different title: ‘Nana’. Nana loved taking care of kids, both her own grandchildren as well as family and friends’ children she would often babysit, to whom she became an honorary grandmother. She leaves her family with a lifetime of wonderful memories: a roast on Sunday afternoons, sleepovers at her house with her grandchildren, backyard wiffle ball games, bike rides in the church parking lot, ping pong on the back porch and much more. She was truly “out of this world”.
Evelyn graduated from Central High School in 1952. Following high school, she worked at Interstate Life Insurance, McKesson Drug Company, and Olan Mills. She was a proud lifelong member of the Church of God, and loved God and her church with her whole heart. Her love for children led her to teach Sunday School to preschoolers for 40 plus years. Always active and on the go, Evelyn attended exercise classes nearly every day, went on trips around the world with the Scenic City Friends, played in the Dulcimer Club, volunteered at Parkridge Hospital, and was a member of the widows club, WWLJ.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Ruby and Leonard; three siblings: Dorothy Ann, Virginia, and Donald Lee; and her husband: Marvin.
She is survived by her brother: Jimmy (Shelba); her three children: Artie (Diana), Deidre, and Penny (Jeff); four grandchildren: Brandy (Brian), Rachel, Emily (Clayton), and Elijah (Bailey); three great-grandchildren: Autumn (Alex), Tyler, and Miles; and an abundance of nieces and nephews whom she adored.
The family will receive visitors at Heritage Funeral Home East Brainerd Chapel on Friday, Aug. 22, from 5-7 p.m. and again on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 10-11:45 a.m. The funeral service will follow at 12 p.m. in the funeral home chapel officiated by Pastor Travis Ballinger. Internment will take place at Lakewood Memory Gardens East.
Pallbearers will be her nephews: Randy Phillips, Kenny Branum, Norman Branum, Jamie Huskey, Chris Huskey, Jason Huskey, and Lloyd Looney.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to your favorite charity.
Visit the online obituary www.heritagechattanooga.com to post tributes and share memories.
Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.