Eva B. (Heaton) Overocker
The Western Star, January 30, 1959.
End Comes to Pioneer Mother
Mrs. George Overocker Had Been Resident Here 75 yearsMrs. George S. Overocker, one of Comanche county's earliest settlers and pioneer mothers, passed away in the Comanche County Hospital Tuesday, January 13. She had been in declining health several months.
Funeral services were held in the Coldwater Methodist church on Friday, January 6, at 2:00 p.m. and were in charge of the pastor, Rev. Dean W. Dryden, and Rev. William A. Hawes, pastor of the Antioch Methodist church.
Walter Smith of Wilmore sang, "Peace in the Valley" and "God's Tomorrow," with Donald Booth as organist.
The active pallbearers were Fred Lohrding, Harry Lohrding, Lynn Haas, Jim Haas, Neill Jackson and Darrol Miller.
Honorary pallbearers were Roy Deewall, Victor Allderdice, Charles Jackson, Paul Deewall, Lutzie Poltera, T. C. Mahan, Ernest Miller, Dan Jackson, G. G. Haas and H. H. Rich.
Interment was in Crown Hill cemetery near Coldwater.
Obituary Eva B. Overocker, daughter of Marla Heaton and T. C. Heaton, was born December 12, 1874, in Knox county, Illinois, and departed this life January 13, 1959, in the Comanche County Hospital, Coldwater, Kansas, at the age of 84 years, 1 month and 1 day. She had been a resident of Comanche county for 75 years.
She came to this county with her parents and crossed the Mississippi River on her ninth birthday. The trip from Illinois was made with a wagon train.
Her parents settled in Avilla township in Comanche county. The county then had many herds of antelopes and she has spoken many times of how she was thrilled at watching them run over the plains. The canyons were filled with cedar trees which were killed out by prairie fires and were also cut out by the settlers for posts and firewood.
On December 25, 1893, she was united in marriage with George S. Overocker at the home of her parents. To this union were born two children, Mrs. Ben Wolf and
D. Jay Overocker , both of Coldwater.Mr. and Mrs. Overocker established their first home in Clark county. In 1894 they moved to Avilla where they made their home until moving to a farm southeast of Coldwater, where they lived until the death of Mr. Overocker in 1943.
In that same year she moved to her present home in Coldwater.
Mrs. Overocker was united with the Fairview Methodist church in 1912 and remained an active member. After moving to Coldwater she transferred her membership to the Methodist church here. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors, having received her 50 year pin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George S. Overocker, and one grandson, John N. Overocker, in 1953.
She is survived by her two children both of Coldwater; one brother, Homer Heaton, and one sister, Mrs. Maud McHugh, of Watonga, Okla.; also seven grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
Donald Jay Overocker, son of Eva (Heaton) Overocker.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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