Evelyn Armitage

EVELYN M ARMITAGE PASSED AWAY AT VILLA ST. FRANCIS NURSING HOME ON DECEMBER 6, 2014. SERVICES WILL BE HELD 10:00 AM ON FRIDAY, DEC. 12 AT PENWELL GABEL FUNERAL HOME, 14275 BLACKBOB ROAD, OLATHE , KANSAS 66062. VISITATION ON THURSDAY EVENING FROM 6:30 - 8 PM AT THE SAME LOCATION. SHE IS SURVIVED BY 2 DAUGHTERS, SHELLEY ALLEN OF OLATHE AND SUE STANFIELD WITH HER HUSBAND , RICK OF PHOENIX, AZ; 6 GRANDCHILDREN AND 6 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.

EVELYN WAS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS. SHE WAS BORN IN SPRING HILL, KANSAS AND IN 1940 MOVED TO LENEXA , KANSAS WHERE SHE LIVED FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS. EVELYN WAS INNOVATIVE FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE . DURING THE POST DEPRESSION YEARS, AT 10 YEARS OLD , SHE LEARNED HOW TO EARN AND SAVE MONEY. SHE PICKED STRAWBERRIES , PROVIDED HOUSE CLEANING AND IRONED CLOTHES FOR NEIGHBORS. HER MOTHER TAUGHT HER TO SAVE 10 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR MADE. SHE LOVED BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE HER OWN BLACK LEATHER ICE SKATES! EVELYN GREW UP WITH A SISTER, CAROL AND A BROTHER 16 YEARS YOUNGER, JAY HARVEY.

IN 1948, EVELYN MARRIED BILL ARMITAGE. THEY LIVED IN A ONE ROOM "WASH HOUSE" WHICH THEY MADE INTO AN APARTMENT. IT WAS BEHIND HER PARENTS HOME AND FOR 4 1/2 YEARS THEY HAD TO USE HER PARENTS INDOOR BATHROOM. DURING THAT TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE TO BUILD THEIR FIRST HOME. BILL BUILT A BRICK HOUSE ON PFLUMM ROAD IN LENEXA. THEIR 2 DAUGHTERS , SHELLEY AND SUE, WERE BORN WHILE LIVING THERE. IN 1960, EVELYN AND FAMILY MOVED TO 119TH ST AND LONE ELM ROAD IN OLATHE TO A FARM WHERE THERE WAS A "ROUND" BARN. THIS BECAME A LANDMARK IN JOHNSON COUNTY. THE BARN WAS BUILT IN 1902 AND WAS FUNCTIONAL FOR KEEPING HAY, GRAIN AND CATTLE. BILL AND EVELYN LIVED AT THAT LOCATION FOR 32 YEARS.

EVELYN WAS A BUSINESS WOMAN THROUGHOUT HER LIFE. SHE WORKED IN OLATHE AS A SECRETARY TO EXECUTIVES IN FIRST NATIONAL BANK AND AT KING RADIO. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION AND SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF ABWA OF OLATHE. IN 1972, SHE WAS HONORED AS THE ABWA WOMAN OF THE YEAR. SHE STARTED HER OWN BUSINESS PROVIDING SECRETARIAL SERVICES TO VARIOUS BUSINESSES IN OLATHE. AT THE AGE OF 45, EVELYN WENT INTO REAL ESTATE AND ENJOYED HELPING MANY PEOPLE FIND HOMES. SEVERAL CLIENTS CAME BACK TO HER AS "RETURN CUSTOMERS" OVER THE YEARS. AFTER RETIREMENT AT AGE 68, EVELYN ENJOYED TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

EVELYN IS PRECEEDED IN DEATH BY HER HUSBAND, BILL, OF 48 YEARS. EVELYN IS SURVIVED BY 2 DAUGHTERS, SHELLEY ALLEN OF OLATHE AND SUE STANFIELD WITH HER HUSBAND RICK OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA. ALSO SURVIVED BY 6 GRANDCHILDREN TRAE ALLEN AND HIS WIFE, ASHLEY WITH 2 DAUGHTERS; MATT ALLEN AND HIS WIFE, CASSIE WITH 1 DAUGHTER AND SHEILA ALLEN ALL LIVING IN THE OLATHE VICINITY. OTHER GRANDCHILDREN INCLUDE BRIANNA STANFIELD FURCRON AND HUSBAND WYCK WITH 1 SON LIVING IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA; LESLIE STANFIELD SCHULZ AND HUSBAND BRYAN WITH 2 DAUGHTERS AND DAVID STANFIELD LIVING IN THE PHOENIX VICINITY. EVELYN'S BROTHER DR. H JAY HARVEY , HIS WIFE , DR. CHRISTINE BELLEZZA HARVEY AND THEIR 2 CHILDREN LIVE IN FREEVILLE, NEW YORK. EVELYN IS SURVIVED BY COUSINS AND A HOST OF NEPHEWS, NIECES.

EVELYN LOVED SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. SHE HAD A ZEST FOR LIFE, A LOVE FOR LEARNING, A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR AND ENJOYED HELPING OTHERS.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, THE FAMILY REQUESTS DONATIONS MADE TO PATHWAY TO HOPE , 520 S. HARRISON ST, #206 OLATHE, KS 66061