In Memory Of
Evelene H. King
1927
2021
Evelene H. King
December 17, 1927 — September 19, 2021
Evelene H. King, retired teacher and librarian, died September 19, 2021 at home in Lenexa, Kansas. She was 93.
Evelene was born December 17, 1927 in Lincoln County, Oklahoma to Earl and Effie (Mefford) Hopkins.
In 1946 she graduated from Chandler High School, Chandler, Oklahoma. Upon graduation from Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) in 1950, Evelene began her teaching career in Guymon, Oklahoma. During that first year of teaching she met Leland King. They were married August 24, 1951 at the Guymon Oklahoma Church of the Nazarene. They had two children, Art and Gina.
After earning her Bachelor's Degree, she went on to earn a Master's Degree in Library Science upon which she built her career as a librarian. Evelene wanted to share her love of books with her students. She learned the types of books that her students liked and would direct them to books that would be interesting and fun to read.
Evelene taught elementary school in Guymon, Oklahoma, Walsh Colorado and Garden City, Kansas. Upon moving to Olathe, Kansas in 1965, she became a librarian and opened libraries in these Olathe elementary schools: Fairview, Washington, and Westview. In 1975, she began working at Mid-America Nazarene College (now University) as the Cataloger in the campus library. In 1984, she became the librarian at Spring Hill Middle School. That is where she was working upon her retirement.
After retirement Evelene dreamed of opening a library at College Church of the Nazarene. She and Leland opened the library in the early 2000's. They worked tirelessly for many hours each week to purchase books, videos, and other media for general circulation. They also acquired the computer and necessary software to inventory items. Evelene also loved to help patrons find just the right book. She was greatly disappointed when her health made it necessary for her to retire from this volunteer position.
More than her love of teaching and being a librarian, she wanted to share her love of Jesus with everyone she met. Whenever she was asked why she had joy even in difficult times, she would respond it was because she had Jesus in her life. Then she would testify to how Jesus changed her life and what he could do for the person she was talking to.
Evelene King was preceded in death by her husband, Leland King, her parents, and two sisters, Lucretia Hopkins and Beatrice Ward. She is survived by her son, Art of Lawrence, Kansas and her daughter, Gina Jacobsma of Olathe, Kansas. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Jeff (Erin) Schwenk of Kansas City, Missouri, David Schwenk of Olathe, Kansas and Sachi King of Sydney, Australia. She is also survived by her first great-granddaughter, Sienna Mae Schwenk.
Memorials are suggested to the College Church of the Nazarene Library Fund, Olathe, KS.
Evelene was born December 17, 1927 in Lincoln County, Oklahoma to Earl and Effie (Mefford) Hopkins.
In 1946 she graduated from Chandler High School, Chandler, Oklahoma. Upon graduation from Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) in 1950, Evelene began her teaching career in Guymon, Oklahoma. During that first year of teaching she met Leland King. They were married August 24, 1951 at the Guymon Oklahoma Church of the Nazarene. They had two children, Art and Gina.
After earning her Bachelor's Degree, she went on to earn a Master's Degree in Library Science upon which she built her career as a librarian. Evelene wanted to share her love of books with her students. She learned the types of books that her students liked and would direct them to books that would be interesting and fun to read.
Evelene taught elementary school in Guymon, Oklahoma, Walsh Colorado and Garden City, Kansas. Upon moving to Olathe, Kansas in 1965, she became a librarian and opened libraries in these Olathe elementary schools: Fairview, Washington, and Westview. In 1975, she began working at Mid-America Nazarene College (now University) as the Cataloger in the campus library. In 1984, she became the librarian at Spring Hill Middle School. That is where she was working upon her retirement.
After retirement Evelene dreamed of opening a library at College Church of the Nazarene. She and Leland opened the library in the early 2000's. They worked tirelessly for many hours each week to purchase books, videos, and other media for general circulation. They also acquired the computer and necessary software to inventory items. Evelene also loved to help patrons find just the right book. She was greatly disappointed when her health made it necessary for her to retire from this volunteer position.
More than her love of teaching and being a librarian, she wanted to share her love of Jesus with everyone she met. Whenever she was asked why she had joy even in difficult times, she would respond it was because she had Jesus in her life. Then she would testify to how Jesus changed her life and what he could do for the person she was talking to.
Evelene King was preceded in death by her husband, Leland King, her parents, and two sisters, Lucretia Hopkins and Beatrice Ward. She is survived by her son, Art of Lawrence, Kansas and her daughter, Gina Jacobsma of Olathe, Kansas. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Jeff (Erin) Schwenk of Kansas City, Missouri, David Schwenk of Olathe, Kansas and Sachi King of Sydney, Australia. She is also survived by her first great-granddaughter, Sienna Mae Schwenk.
Memorials are suggested to the College Church of the Nazarene Library Fund, Olathe, KS.
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