Evelyn Lucinda (Harmon) Peaspanen

Evelyn Lucinda Harmon Peaspanen, 99, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on July 14, 2018. Born June 28, 1919 in Dorset, a daughter of Charles and Georgia Bell Smith Harmon, Evelyn graduated from Dorset High School in 1937, where she played on the girls’ basketball team. She attended Ashtabula Business College, Milwaukee Bible College, and received her nursing degree from Mt. Sinai School of Nursing in 1941. She did private duty nursing and was a nurse at Ashtabula General Hospital for 15 years, retiring in 1978.

      Evelyn married Eino Elias Peaspanen July 14, 1948, joining him on the farm on Chapel Road, Plymouth Township, where they raised their four children. He preceded her in death in 1985. One of her favorite stories about farm life was about the time she put the new roof on the house. She loved to travel with Eino, to Florida and across the United States, and to Great Britain and Hawaii with her brother, Jim.

Evelyn was a faithful member of First Grace Gospel Church, Ashtabula, where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Ladies Missionary Fellowship. She also taught Bible Club in the Ashtabula Schools. She sang in a women’s gospel trio on the local radio station. Led by her faith in God, she was resilient and strong, a caretaker and a role model to everyone with her constant prayers. She was gentle and sweet, yet a force to be reckoned with. She loved her family fiercely.

            She is survived by her children: Marie (Richard) Tinker of Kennesaw, GA;  Marilyn (David) Adams, Carl (Jeanette) Peaspanen and Maryann (Thomas) Stevenson, all of Ashtabula; ten grandchildren: Mark Tinker, Elizabeth (Thomas) Ware and Paul Adams, all of Georgia; Jill (Brian) Norcia and Jennifer (Kevin) Baker, all of Canton; Sarah (Arthur) Hernandez of New Mexico; Lydia (John) Affolter of Dalton, Ohio; Matthew Peaspanen of Jefferson; and Andrew (Stacy) Stevenson and Lucinda (Chip) Laveck, all of Ashtabula; and fifteen great-grandchildren: J.R. and Hunter Tinker; Makaela and Skylar Ware; Eino Elijah and Aiden Adams; Cooper and Brady Norcia; Bobby, Alyssa and Tyler Baker; Chenoa and Emmet Stevenson; and Moira Evelyn and Calvin Laveck; and many nieces and nephews.

            She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Adah Smith and brothers Charles, Harry, William and James Harmon.

            Evelyn’s family wishes to sincerely thank the caregivers at Austinburg Nursing and Rehab, who cared for our mother the past year and a half as if she were their own.

            Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at the Fleming and Billman Funeral Home, 526 W. Prospect Rd., Ashtabula, with Pastor David Adams of First Grace Gospel Church officiating. Calling hours will be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 16, 2018 and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at the funeral home.

            Memorial contributions may be made to First Grace Gospel Church. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Condolences, light a candle and obituary at www.fleming-billman.com

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