Evelyn Grace Hickenbottom

Evelyn Grace Hickenbottom, or as her father called her Evelina Jolotty Tessa Viola La Grace Riley Hickenbottom, was born on her family farm in Mont Ida Kansas on April 18, 1921. Evelyn was delivered by her father and the neighbor Mrs. Howater in her parents' bedroom. She grew up with her 6 siblings in Kansas on their family farm. While on the farm Evelyn enjoyed running around and playing with the animals. Even though her father would warn her not to go into the working barns, she loved being around the family work horses. There was one day when Evelyn was petting the horses when she fell and a horse stepped on her head. Her father came to her rescue, ran her to the well, and made her a special hat to help her head hold its round shape. Another time Evelyn got her hand stuck in the hay rope and fused her pinky finger down on her right hand. When Evelyn went to school a piece of chalk got stuck between her pinky and palm and another student had to whittle it out with his pocketknife. As Evelyn got older, her family moved into the town of Garnett, Kansas. During Evelyn's childhood she was able to witness the change from horse and buggy to the first car, she grew up with an outhouse instead of indoor plumbing, clothes were sewn by her mother, homes did not have electricity or closets, and the people truly lived off of the land. When Evelyn became a young adult, she got a job working for the MKT railroad. Living to be 101 Evelyn got to see the best of the world as well as the worst of our world. She has lived through the Great Depression. She has witnessed our world fighting WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and the Global War on Terror. She also survived COVID-19. During WWII Evelyn met the love of her life by writing letters to a soldier who was stationed with her brother Albert. This soldier's name was Steven Hickenbottom. When Steve returned home from the war, he told his father that he was going to marry that Kansas girl who wrote him all those letters and his response was "well, any girl is better than none!" Boy did that make Evelyn upset. Steve packed up his belongings and drove from Wyoming to Kansas. While Evelyn quit her job at the MKT railroad, where she made 68 cents an hour, Steve made plans for them to marry. The two married on November 18, 1945 in Garnett Kansas. They got in their car and headed for Nebraska where they would own a car dealership with Steve's brother Wayne. They quickly realized this was not the business they wanted to be in and instead wanted to head down to San Diego California to work with Steve's cousin in a grocery store. After a few days in San Diego the two decided San Diego was not the place for them, and they would move to San Luis Obispo California and start their lives all over again. They found happiness with a new career for Steve at Bank of America and new friends the Meiers in Matthew's Trailer Park. Every night Evelyn would wash and press Steve's one white shirt for work. They began to grow their family when they had their children Rita, Jerry, Gary, Jim, and Sheryl. Steve got a new job offer for Western Airlines Federal Credit Union and he and Evelyn moved their family to Carson California in 1963. It is here they had their baby Pamela. They watched their children grow up and learn how to be hard workers. After retirement in 1980 they moved back to San Luis Obispo but missed their children, so they moved to Loma Linda, California in 1989. They watched their children fall in love and get married and begin making families of their own. Although Evelyn had to say goodbye to Steve and her son Jim long before it was her time to leave this earth; Evelyn was lucky enough to be able to enjoy her 15 grandchildren, her 28 great grandchildren, and hear about the 3 great grandchildren who are on the way. During her last 7 years of life, Evelyn lived in Corona California with her son Gary who took excellent care of her. Evelyn enjoyed painting ceramics, gardening, sewing, playing the piano, singing, and playing board games with others. Evelyn was a very strong woman whose values and leadership impacted her family every day. She always had a smile on her face and enjoyed hearing stories of her family and friends. If you were lucky, you were able to hear amazing stories from Evelyn's past and get to know where she got her strength and wisdom from. Evelyn, you will truly be missed; but I know you are smiling down on us from heaven as you rejoice with your friends and family who have passed before you. Visitation Thomas Miller Mortuary 1118 East Sixth Street Corona, CA 92879 (951) 737-3244 | Thursday 1/19, 10:00 am Service Thomas Miller Mortuary 1118 East Sixth Street Corona, CA 92879 (951) 737-3244 | Thursday 1/19, 11:00 am Cemetery Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd Riverside, CA 92518 Thursday 1/19, 1:00 pm