Evelyn Lee Ferchow's Obituary
Evelyn Lee Ferchow peacefully transitioned to be with our Lord on April 15, 2026, at the age of 89. Born on April 22, 1936, in Ellsworth, Illinois to William Louis Harper & Dorothy Isabelle Harper (Peebles), she was one of ten children. Evelyn graduated from Feitshans High School, Springfield, Illinois, in 1954. She met the love of her life & forever partner, the late Stuart Gale Ferchow, while working at the Ford Motor Company in 1957. They were engaged 18 days later & were happily married for 51 years until his passing.
Evelyn worked as a bookkeeper for International Harvester, assistant to political party HQ & even helped with her in-laws’ lemonade stand at the State Fair. Evelyn was a beloved mother to her two children & cheerfully evolved into an incredible Grandmother “Mimi” to her grandchildren & great grandson. She affectionately lived up to her fridge magnet that read “If Mom says No, ask Mimi” & her grandchildren did not hesitate. Mimi deeply loved all her grandchildren & great grandchild spoiling them all equally.
Evelyn lived her life always moving, whether cooking for family & friends, babysitting, mowing the lawn, performing house repairs, helping others or exercising. She warmly welcomed every person she met & always saw the good in people. She invited strangers to holiday dinners & offered a place to stay for family, friends, & friend of a friend. She adored her kind & thoughtful neighbors who were always willing to lend a helping hand. She relished the neighborhood block parties, especially Halloween when she would dress up & hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters.
Evelyn will be greatly missed by her siblings: Donald James Harper (spouse Virginia), Terry Colleen Heisler (who recently lost her spouse Robert) and Martha Ellen Harper “Sissy”; children, Diana L. Flinn (spouse Brian) and Gregory G. Ferchow (spouse Charla); grandchildren, Katrina R. Ferchow (spouse Laura), Alexis M. Ferchow, Matthew T. Bram (spouse Ana), and Kailey E. Bram; great grandchild, Zayn T. Bram; children she was like a mother to, Gerald “Jay” Hudson (spouse Kari) and Eric W. Burke (spouse Natalie). She leaves a host of cousins, nieces, nephews whom she loved dearly.
In addition to her parents, Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Stuart Gale Ferchow; her siblings, Charles William, Merlin Louis “Buzz”, Shirley Joan, Betty Jane, Daniel Herbert & Dale Allen.
Celebration of Life block party will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 7:00 p.m on Cranford Court. Celebration of Life will be held at her home on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. Evelyn will be laid to rest in Auburn, Illinois cemetery.
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