Evelyn B. Fields, 84 of Arley, entered into rest on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at home surrounded by her loved ones.
Mrs. Fields was born on August 10, 1934 in Winston County, Alabama. She was a long time member of Arley Church of Christ. Evelyn was an exceptional woman with many talents and a great love for her family and friends. She was giving and full of compassion when needed, but when called for, tough as nails. Evelyn was a caregiver in multiple ways not only to her family and friends but to many in need in the community. In her younger days, she enjoyed playing softball and spent many times behind the plate talking a batter into taking a swing. She loved writing poems, songs, and had a short story published.
Evelyn spent endless hours working with her flowers and plants around her yard, introducing nature to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, sometimes providing them a worm bed to dig in or a tadpole pond to watch how frogs grow. She loved working with wood and building structures that many thought impossible for a little woman. She could swing a hammer with the best of them in her heyday. Evelyn hated being inside the house and spent most of her time outside where she could enjoy the trees and pretty rocks and bluffs. On those walks, she would often come home with an orphaned animal which led to her love of animal rescue and rehab. She was a generous woman and well respected. Evelyn will be deeply missed by her family and many others.
Visitation will be held Sunday, January 20, 2019 at Nichols Funeral Home in Addison, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., with services on Monday, at 11 a.m. at Arley Church of Christ. She will lie in state from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Terrance Cleghorn will officiate. Burial will follow in Old Bethel Church Cemetery, Arley, Alabama.
Evelyn is survived by her sons, Danny Fields, Donny (Sherri) Fields: daughters, Leann (Richard) Hillhouse, Tammy (Wayne) Elliott: brothers, Lenoit, Nelson, and Jerry (Joyce) Ragsdale; sisters, Judy Golden, Tommie and Bonnie Cleghorn; best friend, Inez Caughran; and a host of other family and friends. She was "Grandma" to 11 grandchildren, Kimberly Matthews, Cody Fields, Leah Parson, Pilar Martin, Maggie Hillhouse, Abby Fields, Crandall Hillhouse, Heather Elliott, Hannah Collins, Tyler Elliott, Maverick Elliott; and 9 great-grandchildren, Javan and Noah Matthews, Kevin Fields, Ellie McDonald, Caruso and Evielle Parson, Alaina Martin, Jasper and Toran Elliott.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dearl Fields; great granddaughter, Adalyn Fields; parents, Johnny and Ethel Ragsdale; sister, Fay Roberson; brothers, Reuben and Avery Ragsdale.
