Evelyn Zook

Ruth Evelyn Zook was born May 3, 1930, near Garden City, MO, the oldest child of C.P. and Florence (Schrock) Yoder. She departed this life on October 11, 2020 at the age of 90. On April 7, 1950 Evelyn married Alvin Zook in one of the first weddings to be held in the Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church building. They were married for 65 years before Alvin passed away in April of 2015.

Growing up, Evelyn loved the horses her father trained and used for farming, including Polly, her favorite. She spent many hours in her Grandpa Schrock's orchard picking apples, cherries and a few peaches. As a teenager, Evelyn went to high school in Garden City before attending Hesston Academy, in Hesston, KS, graduating in 1949.

Evelyn and Alvin were the parents of Darrell (Pat) Zook of Philidelphia, MO; Duane (Darla) Zook; Velma (Willard) Yoder; and Delvin (Debbie) Zook all of Garden City, MO. They lived on several different farms in the Sycamore Grove community. Alvin owned Zook's Service Station in Garden City and worked for Sherwood School District as bus maintence, while Evelyn was a homemaker and worked at ABC Health Center from February 1974 to June of 1997. The first few years she worked as a nurses aide, then became the Head of the Laundry Department.

Evelyn accepted Christ as her Savior as a young girl, and was baptised at Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church of rural Garden City. She served in various capacities through the years but one of her favorite church activities was Sewing on Tuesdays with the “Quilting Ladies”. This not only produced many beautiful quilts for the annual fall sale, but also much laughter and fun memories with her fellow quilters.

Evelyn had a love for history and spent many hours reading family genealogies and telling stories of her family and community. Her love of history and storytelling has inspired several of her children and grandchildren to continue learning and preserving family, church and Cass County history. Her memory was very sharp: even until the end of her life being able to tell stories with very specific detail, answering questions of family genealogy or knowing exactly where a box was stored in her house.

Evelyn is survived by her four children and their spouses, 13 grandchildren (plus 8 grandchildren in-law) and 17 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers Leroy (Maxine) Yoder of Elkhart, Indiana; Joe (Sharon) Yoder of Garden City, Missouri; her brother-in-law John Zook of Goshen Indiana and sister-in-law Dorothy Zook of Hesston, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Alvin Zook and her sister Ruby Ann.


The family would like to thank Ascend Hospice and Crown Care Center for their care and comfort given to Evelyn toward the end of her life.

Memorial contributions may be made to Clearfork Cemetery Association.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church, Garden City, Missouri with burial in the Clearfork Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, October 14, 2020 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Dickey Funeral Home, Garden City, Missouri.