Joseph Edde and Ada Mae (Ozbun) Pippin became proud parents of Eva LaVaughn (Pippin) Flowers at their home in Urbana, Dallas, Missouri, December 20, 1928. Eva was the seventh of eight children. The family moved to the "Pippin Farm" in Hickory County, Missouri, in 1938. Rev. Orville Hodge baptized Eva in the Pomme de Terre River September 30, 1944. She was the Urbana Highlights, the high school newspaper, editor, played the viola, and lettered on the Tiger's basketball team. She took her first job as a soda jerk at the Crown Drug Store her junior summer, living with her sister, Ada Jo, and husband, Charles Edde, in Kansas City, Missouri. Eva graduated 4th in her class from Urbana High School in 1946. She received a scholarship to attend Central Business College in Kansas City, Missouri, but had to turn it down as the family wasn't able to afford it at that time.
Following graduation, Eva returned to Kansas City, and worked at Wilson Sports and Luzier's Cosmetics typing invoices. She lived with another sister, Mamie and her husband, Homer Bybee. She met the Grover family, who were friends of the Bybee's. He was the Superintendent of Rock Island Railroad. They had 5 daughters, whom they asked Eva to care for the rest of the summer at their cabin on the lake in Beloit, Wisconsin. She returned to Urbana that September, renting a room in town and working for Jim and Bonnie Stafford at their Urbana Drug Store.
March, 1947, she left by train to join another sister, Dorothy, and husband, Phillip German, in Buena Vista, Colorado. She found employment as a soda jerk at Schaefer's Drug Store. She met Bob Flowers May 1st, when he returned from the Merchant Marines. She stole his heart with real cream chocolate malts. Bob proposed at a dance on their first date. She turned him down, but he pursued her again asking at the tunnels north of town. Eva returned home to Urbana, Missouri, in August. She got her first driver's license September 24, 1947, in Preston, Hickory, Missouri. Bob and her brother, Oscar, arrived in Urbana, in September, when Bob presented her with an engagement ring. Bob returned home, but came back in December, and they were married December 2, 1947, at the Methodist Church in Urbana, at 3:00 p.m. with her sister, Ada Jo, and brother, Oscar, as witnesses. After their honeymoon at the Oxford Hotel in Denver and a side trip to Tiny Town, they returned to Buena Vista where Bob was proprietor of his late father, Harvey's, Eveready Freight Service. They lived with Bob's widowed mother, Emma, at the west corner of South Pleasant Avenue and Main Street. Eva enjoyed traveling with Bob on his various jobs. With more funds needed, Eva returned to working as a soda jerk at Schaefer's Drug Store. Their first child was stillborn, likely due to an RH factor complication.
Eva moved with Bob to Climax in 1951, where Bob worked in the Transportation Departments. They lived at White Level in a duplex. Vicki, their first child was born in 1951.
They moved to 2nd Street in Climax in 1953. Their first son, Kit, was born that year.
Bartlett Street, in Climax, became their home in 1955, and Jolene was born. Ron was their last child born in 1956.
Eva worked for the Fremont Trading Post in the clothing department sewing alterations. She also made clothes for all of her family. She participated on the Climax wives bowling team.
There was a strike at Climax in 1958. The Flowers' family returned to Buena Vista, to live at 438 School Street, in Bob's mother's one-bedroom home. Eva rededicated her life to Christ and started attending a Bible Study led by Virginia Carpenter. They were building a home west of town, but sold it to Harold and Bobbie Wright, and took a position at Young Life's Rancho Caballo. The family was active in the Buena Vista Congregational Church in town. Eva was busy with rearing her children, cooking for whoever was around, driving horses from Rancho Caballo to Frontier Ranch, removing rocks from the hay fields, putting up hay, caring for newborn animals that would appear in front of the heater in the house, swimming, hiking, tennis, basketball, doing crafts with Young Life wives, …
During the early 1960's, Eva led Bible Studies for high school girls and one for young mothers. Bible studies became a part of her life leading or attending throughout her life.
The family began going to the First Baptist Church around 1962, where she helped care for babies and found people to serve in the nursery. She loved memorizing verses. Eva carried messages to Jim Rayburn, the founder of Young Life, as he worked on creating Trail West. She helped in various jobs as the lodge was built in 1964.
Beginning in 1964, Eva started her career in school bus driving for Rowland Harms that would last until 1979.
John, Bob's brother, Jack's son, arrived in 1965, whom they became guardians for as Jack's wife, Vi had passed away and Jack was in the Merchant Marines. Eva was working at Trail West as head housekeeper, receptionist, reservationist, supply purchaser, kitchen helper, and chalets and condos cleaner. She continued working at Trail West through 1970.
She kept herself busy learning to ski, sewing prom dresses and other clothes for her children and their friends. In the early 1970's, Eva helped on Hotline, a phone connection for people in need of help. She babysat Todd Brookens. She received a Child Evangelism Teacher's Certificate and started holding Good News Clubs in her home.
The year 1978, brought big changes as Eva and Bob returned to 438 School Street and built their home at 112 Hill Street, four children graduated from college, Eva worked at Delaney's Depot as a hostess, played tennis and basketball, and completed an H&R Block course with Jolene. They started the first H&R Block in Buena Vista in 1979 under Evelyn Epp.
Eva made the suit coats for Bob, Kit and Ron, and dresses for Vicki, Jolene, and herself for Kit and Jan's wedding in 1979.
Vicki joined the H&R Block team when Jolene left. Eva began baking pies at Delaney's Depot in 1980. At one point Bob asked when she was going to bake a pie for him to which she replied, "I don't bake pies for love anymore." She stopped hostessing in 1981, and completed her pie baking career in 1983.
She took a counseling course in 1981, through Exchanged Life Ministries and in 1982, took Real Estate classes. She worked for Ken Eigsti at Arkansas Valley Realty Office from 1983-1990. She became a Notary in 1984. She began working for Jane Knowles at Western Horizons Real Estate in 1990. She was involved with the Mission Group at church at this time. She was named director in Chaffee County Board of Realtors for 1991-1992. In 1992, she began her own real estate business, Eva Flowers' Realty. She hired Vicki, her daughter; Karol, her daughter-in-law; and Joshua, her oldest grandson, in 1995.
Eva was featured in Chaffee County Times in 2001. She was a member of American Association of Christian Counselors. She completed another counseling course, "Caring for People God's Way" in 2003. Traveling was another activity that Eva and Bob enjoyed covering many states in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Kenya, Africa.
The loss of her husband, Bob, November 29, 2005, left a huge hole in her life. She closed her office in April of 2006, and joined Century 21 under Dallas Campbell. She was chosen as Best of Chaffee County Realtors in 2007. She retired from Century 21 at the age of 85. Since that time she has filled her schedule with folding bulletins for Valley Fellowship Church, making bread for newcomers in the church, making cookies for coffee hour at the church, supplying meals for those in need, prayer groups, Bible Studies, sewing bags for Treasured and Protected under the direction of Kathy Ruiter, knitting baby blankets for the Buena Vista Pregnancy Center, encouraging people on Facebook and those who would drop in or she would go visit, doing puzzles, playing Skipbo and Hand and Foot. She was adventurous like the time she climbed Angel Falls in her late 80's or snowmobiling with friends a couple years ago. She was going to the gym three days a week up until midsummer of 2019.
Eva began working on FindAGrave February 20, 2010. She let her daughter, Jo, join her in this project as she liked the research end. Eva put many sites in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Buena Vista, Colorado, on this site, as well as for family members and friends around the country.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Her son, Ron and his wife, Karol, moved in with her in July of 2019. She was honored at the first Pippin Family Reunion in Buena Vista, Colorado, in September 2019.
At the age of 91 years and 4 days, she passed away peacefully December 24, 2019, at 13:13 p.m. with Vicki, her daughter, at her side. She lived the longest of her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Joseph Flowers; parents, Joseph Edde and Ada Mae (Ozbun) Pippin; her siblings and their spouses: Mamie Mae (Homer) Bybee, Dorothy Lucille (Phillip) German and (Andy) Anderson; Ozbun Joseph (Velma Creach) Pippin; Ada Jo (Charles) Edde; Helen Pearl (Ralph) Bentley and (Virgil) Bennett; James Oscar (Theresa Betty Houghton) (June Artie Young) (MaryElizabeth (Fallman) Wilson) (Mary Patricia (Brinkman) Holmes Pippin Sparks) Pippin; and Georgetta (Robert) Harbison (Warren) Lawrence (Lawrence) Chaney; son-in-law, David Eugene Melton; and several nieces and nephews.
Eva is survived by 5 children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren and their spouses, and 16 great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, several nieces and nephews.
Suggested donations can be made to Christian Veterinary Mission, 19303 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133, the Buena Vista Young Life Club (please designate clearly): P.O. Box 2025, Buena Vista, CO 81211; or Valley Fellowship, PO Box 2055, Buena Vista, CO 81211.
Celebration of Eva's life will be held Saturday, January 11, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., at Valley Fellowship, 608 S. San Juan Ave, Buena Vista, Colorado.
~~~~~
Following graduation, Eva returned to Kansas City, and worked at Wilson Sports and Luzier's Cosmetics typing invoices. She lived with another sister, Mamie and her husband, Homer Bybee. She met the Grover family, who were friends of the Bybee's. He was the Superintendent of Rock Island Railroad. They had 5 daughters, whom they asked Eva to care for the rest of the summer at their cabin on the lake in Beloit, Wisconsin. She returned to Urbana that September, renting a room in town and working for Jim and Bonnie Stafford at their Urbana Drug Store.
March, 1947, she left by train to join another sister, Dorothy, and husband, Phillip German, in Buena Vista, Colorado. She found employment as a soda jerk at Schaefer's Drug Store. She met Bob Flowers May 1st, when he returned from the Merchant Marines. She stole his heart with real cream chocolate malts. Bob proposed at a dance on their first date. She turned him down, but he pursued her again asking at the tunnels north of town. Eva returned home to Urbana, Missouri, in August. She got her first driver's license September 24, 1947, in Preston, Hickory, Missouri. Bob and her brother, Oscar, arrived in Urbana, in September, when Bob presented her with an engagement ring. Bob returned home, but came back in December, and they were married December 2, 1947, at the Methodist Church in Urbana, at 3:00 p.m. with her sister, Ada Jo, and brother, Oscar, as witnesses. After their honeymoon at the Oxford Hotel in Denver and a side trip to Tiny Town, they returned to Buena Vista where Bob was proprietor of his late father, Harvey's, Eveready Freight Service. They lived with Bob's widowed mother, Emma, at the west corner of South Pleasant Avenue and Main Street. Eva enjoyed traveling with Bob on his various jobs. With more funds needed, Eva returned to working as a soda jerk at Schaefer's Drug Store. Their first child was stillborn, likely due to an RH factor complication.
Eva moved with Bob to Climax in 1951, where Bob worked in the Transportation Departments. They lived at White Level in a duplex. Vicki, their first child was born in 1951.
They moved to 2nd Street in Climax in 1953. Their first son, Kit, was born that year.
Bartlett Street, in Climax, became their home in 1955, and Jolene was born. Ron was their last child born in 1956.
Eva worked for the Fremont Trading Post in the clothing department sewing alterations. She also made clothes for all of her family. She participated on the Climax wives bowling team.
There was a strike at Climax in 1958. The Flowers' family returned to Buena Vista, to live at 438 School Street, in Bob's mother's one-bedroom home. Eva rededicated her life to Christ and started attending a Bible Study led by Virginia Carpenter. They were building a home west of town, but sold it to Harold and Bobbie Wright, and took a position at Young Life's Rancho Caballo. The family was active in the Buena Vista Congregational Church in town. Eva was busy with rearing her children, cooking for whoever was around, driving horses from Rancho Caballo to Frontier Ranch, removing rocks from the hay fields, putting up hay, caring for newborn animals that would appear in front of the heater in the house, swimming, hiking, tennis, basketball, doing crafts with Young Life wives, …
During the early 1960's, Eva led Bible Studies for high school girls and one for young mothers. Bible studies became a part of her life leading or attending throughout her life.
The family began going to the First Baptist Church around 1962, where she helped care for babies and found people to serve in the nursery. She loved memorizing verses. Eva carried messages to Jim Rayburn, the founder of Young Life, as he worked on creating Trail West. She helped in various jobs as the lodge was built in 1964.
Beginning in 1964, Eva started her career in school bus driving for Rowland Harms that would last until 1979.
John, Bob's brother, Jack's son, arrived in 1965, whom they became guardians for as Jack's wife, Vi had passed away and Jack was in the Merchant Marines. Eva was working at Trail West as head housekeeper, receptionist, reservationist, supply purchaser, kitchen helper, and chalets and condos cleaner. She continued working at Trail West through 1970.
She kept herself busy learning to ski, sewing prom dresses and other clothes for her children and their friends. In the early 1970's, Eva helped on Hotline, a phone connection for people in need of help. She babysat Todd Brookens. She received a Child Evangelism Teacher's Certificate and started holding Good News Clubs in her home.
The year 1978, brought big changes as Eva and Bob returned to 438 School Street and built their home at 112 Hill Street, four children graduated from college, Eva worked at Delaney's Depot as a hostess, played tennis and basketball, and completed an H&R Block course with Jolene. They started the first H&R Block in Buena Vista in 1979 under Evelyn Epp.
Eva made the suit coats for Bob, Kit and Ron, and dresses for Vicki, Jolene, and herself for Kit and Jan's wedding in 1979.
Vicki joined the H&R Block team when Jolene left. Eva began baking pies at Delaney's Depot in 1980. At one point Bob asked when she was going to bake a pie for him to which she replied, "I don't bake pies for love anymore." She stopped hostessing in 1981, and completed her pie baking career in 1983.
She took a counseling course in 1981, through Exchanged Life Ministries and in 1982, took Real Estate classes. She worked for Ken Eigsti at Arkansas Valley Realty Office from 1983-1990. She became a Notary in 1984. She began working for Jane Knowles at Western Horizons Real Estate in 1990. She was involved with the Mission Group at church at this time. She was named director in Chaffee County Board of Realtors for 1991-1992. In 1992, she began her own real estate business, Eva Flowers' Realty. She hired Vicki, her daughter; Karol, her daughter-in-law; and Joshua, her oldest grandson, in 1995.
Eva was featured in Chaffee County Times in 2001. She was a member of American Association of Christian Counselors. She completed another counseling course, "Caring for People God's Way" in 2003. Traveling was another activity that Eva and Bob enjoyed covering many states in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Kenya, Africa.
The loss of her husband, Bob, November 29, 2005, left a huge hole in her life. She closed her office in April of 2006, and joined Century 21 under Dallas Campbell. She was chosen as Best of Chaffee County Realtors in 2007. She retired from Century 21 at the age of 85. Since that time she has filled her schedule with folding bulletins for Valley Fellowship Church, making bread for newcomers in the church, making cookies for coffee hour at the church, supplying meals for those in need, prayer groups, Bible Studies, sewing bags for Treasured and Protected under the direction of Kathy Ruiter, knitting baby blankets for the Buena Vista Pregnancy Center, encouraging people on Facebook and those who would drop in or she would go visit, doing puzzles, playing Skipbo and Hand and Foot. She was adventurous like the time she climbed Angel Falls in her late 80's or snowmobiling with friends a couple years ago. She was going to the gym three days a week up until midsummer of 2019.
Eva began working on FindAGrave February 20, 2010. She let her daughter, Jo, join her in this project as she liked the research end. Eva put many sites in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Buena Vista, Colorado, on this site, as well as for family members and friends around the country.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Her son, Ron and his wife, Karol, moved in with her in July of 2019. She was honored at the first Pippin Family Reunion in Buena Vista, Colorado, in September 2019.
At the age of 91 years and 4 days, she passed away peacefully December 24, 2019, at 13:13 p.m. with Vicki, her daughter, at her side. She lived the longest of her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Joseph Flowers; parents, Joseph Edde and Ada Mae (Ozbun) Pippin; her siblings and their spouses: Mamie Mae (Homer) Bybee, Dorothy Lucille (Phillip) German and (Andy) Anderson; Ozbun Joseph (Velma Creach) Pippin; Ada Jo (Charles) Edde; Helen Pearl (Ralph) Bentley and (Virgil) Bennett; James Oscar (Theresa Betty Houghton) (June Artie Young) (MaryElizabeth (Fallman) Wilson) (Mary Patricia (Brinkman) Holmes Pippin Sparks) Pippin; and Georgetta (Robert) Harbison (Warren) Lawrence (Lawrence) Chaney; son-in-law, David Eugene Melton; and several nieces and nephews.
Eva is survived by 5 children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren and their spouses, and 16 great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, several nieces and nephews.
Suggested donations can be made to Christian Veterinary Mission, 19303 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133, the Buena Vista Young Life Club (please designate clearly): P.O. Box 2025, Buena Vista, CO 81211; or Valley Fellowship, PO Box 2055, Buena Vista, CO 81211.
Celebration of Eva's life will be held Saturday, January 11, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., at Valley Fellowship, 608 S. San Juan Ave, Buena Vista, Colorado.
~~~~~
Joseph Edde and Ada Mae (Ozbun) Pippin became proud parents of Eva LaVaughn (Pippin) Flowers at their home in Urbana, Dallas, Missouri, December 20, 1928. Eva was the seventh of eight children. The family moved to the "Pippin Farm" in Hickory County, Missouri, in 1938. Rev. Orville Hodge baptized Eva in the Pomme de Terre River September 30, 1944. She was the Urbana Highlights, the high school newspaper, editor, played the viola, and lettered on the Tiger's basketball team. She took her first job as a soda jerk at the Crown Drug Store her junior summer, living with her sister, Ada Jo, and husband, Charles Edde, in Kansas City, Missouri. Eva graduated 4th in her class from Urbana High School in 1946. She received a scholarship to attend Central Business College in Kansas City, Missouri, but had to turn it down as the family wasn't able to afford it at that time.
Following graduation, Eva returned to Kansas City, and worked at Wilson Sports and Luzier's Cosmetics typing invoices. She lived with another sister, Mamie and her husband, Homer Bybee. She met the Grover family, who were friends of the Bybee's. He was the Superintendent of Rock Island Railroad. They had 5 daughters, whom they asked Eva to care for the rest of the summer at their cabin on the lake in Beloit, Wisconsin. She returned to Urbana that September, renting a room in town and working for Jim and Bonnie Stafford at their Urbana Drug Store.
March, 1947, she left by train to join another sister, Dorothy, and husband, Phillip German, in Buena Vista, Colorado. She found employment as a soda jerk at Schaefer's Drug Store. She met Bob Flowers May 1st, when he returned from the Merchant Marines. She stole his heart with real cream chocolate malts. Bob proposed at a dance on their first date. She turned him down, but he pursued her again asking at the tunnels north of town. Eva returned home to Urbana, Missouri, in August. She got her first driver's license September 24, 1947, in Preston, Hickory, Missouri. Bob and her brother, Oscar, arrived in Urbana, in September, when Bob presented her with an engagement ring. Bob returned home, but came back in December, and they were married December 2, 1947, at the Methodist Church in Urbana, at 3:00 p.m. with her sister, Ada Jo, and brother, Oscar, as witnesses. After their honeymoon at the Oxford Hotel in Denver and a side trip to Tiny Town, they returned to Buena Vista where Bob was proprietor of his late father, Harvey's, Eveready Freight Service. They lived with Bob's widowed mother, Emma, at the west corner of South Pleasant Avenue and Main Street. Eva enjoyed traveling with Bob on his various jobs. With more funds needed, Eva returned to working as a soda jerk at Schaefer's Drug Store. Their first child was stillborn, likely due to an RH factor complication.
Eva moved with Bob to Climax in 1951, where Bob worked in the Transportation Departments. They lived at White Level in a duplex. Vicki, their first child was born in 1951.
They moved to 2nd Street in Climax in 1953. Their first son, Kit, was born that year.
Bartlett Street, in Climax, became their home in 1955, and Jolene was born. Ron was their last child born in 1956.
Eva worked for the Fremont Trading Post in the clothing department sewing alterations. She also made clothes for all of her family. She participated on the Climax wives bowling team.
There was a strike at Climax in 1958. The Flowers' family returned to Buena Vista, to live at 438 School Street, in Bob's mother's one-bedroom home. Eva rededicated her life to Christ and started attending a Bible Study led by Virginia Carpenter. They were building a home west of town, but sold it to Harold and Bobbie Wright, and took a position at Young Life's Rancho Caballo. The family was active in the Buena Vista Congregational Church in town. Eva was busy with rearing her children, cooking for whoever was around, driving horses from Rancho Caballo to Frontier Ranch, removing rocks from the hay fields, putting up hay, caring for newborn animals that would appear in front of the heater in the house, swimming, hiking, tennis, basketball, doing crafts with Young Life wives, …
During the early 1960's, Eva led Bible Studies for high school girls and one for young mothers. Bible studies became a part of her life leading or attending throughout her life.
The family began going to the First Baptist Church around 1962, where she helped care for babies and found people to serve in the nursery. She loved memorizing verses. Eva carried messages to Jim Rayburn, the founder of Young Life, as he worked on creating Trail West. She helped in various jobs as the lodge was built in 1964.
Beginning in 1964, Eva started her career in school bus driving for Rowland Harms that would last until 1979.
John, Bob's brother, Jack's son, arrived in 1965, whom they became guardians for as Jack's wife, Vi had passed away and Jack was in the Merchant Marines. Eva was working at Trail West as head housekeeper, receptionist, reservationist, supply purchaser, kitchen helper, and chalets and condos cleaner. She continued working at Trail West through 1970.
She kept herself busy learning to ski, sewing prom dresses and other clothes for her children and their friends. In the early 1970's, Eva helped on Hotline, a phone connection for people in need of help. She babysat Todd Brookens. She received a Child Evangelism Teacher's Certificate and started holding Good News Clubs in her home.
The year 1978, brought big changes as Eva and Bob returned to 438 School Street and built their home at 112 Hill Street, four children graduated from college, Eva worked at Delaney's Depot as a hostess, played tennis and basketball, and completed an H&R Block course with Jolene. They started the first H&R Block in Buena Vista in 1979 under Evelyn Epp.
Eva made the suit coats for Bob, Kit and Ron, and dresses for Vicki, Jolene, and herself for Kit and Jan's wedding in 1979.
Vicki joined the H&R Block team when Jolene left. Eva began baking pies at Delaney's Depot in 1980. At one point Bob asked when she was going to bake a pie for him to which she replied, "I don't bake pies for love anymore." She stopped hostessing in 1981, and completed her pie baking career in 1983.
She took a counseling course in 1981, through Exchanged Life Ministries and in 1982, took Real Estate classes. She worked for Ken Eigsti at Arkansas Valley Realty Office from 1983-1990. She became a Notary in 1984. She began working for Jane Knowles at Western Horizons Real Estate in 1990. She was involved with the Mission Group at church at this time. She was named director in Chaffee County Board of Realtors for 1991-1992. In 1992, she began her own real estate business, Eva Flowers' Realty. She hired Vicki, her daughter; Karol, her daughter-in-law; and Joshua, her oldest grandson, in 1995.
Eva was featured in Chaffee County Times in 2001. She was a member of American Association of Christian Counselors. She completed another counseling course, "Caring for People God's Way" in 2003. Traveling was another activity that Eva and Bob enjoyed covering many states in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Kenya, Africa.
The loss of her husband, Bob, November 29, 2005, left a huge hole in her life. She closed her office in April of 2006, and joined Century 21 under Dallas Campbell. She was chosen as Best of Chaffee County Realtors in 2007. She retired from Century 21 at the age of 85. Since that time she has filled her schedule with folding bulletins for Valley Fellowship Church, making bread for newcomers in the church, making cookies for coffee hour at the church, supplying meals for those in need, prayer groups, Bible Studies, sewing bags for Treasured and Protected under the direction of Kathy Ruiter, knitting baby blankets for the Buena Vista Pregnancy Center, encouraging people on Facebook and those who would drop in or she would go visit, doing puzzles, playing Skipbo and Hand and Foot. She was adventurous like the time she climbed Angel Falls in her late 80's or snowmobiling with friends a couple years ago. She was going to the gym three days a week up until midsummer of 2019.
Eva began working on FindAGrave February 20, 2010. She let her daughter, Jo, join her in this project as she liked the research end. Eva put many sites in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Buena Vista, Colorado, on this site, as well as for family members and friends around the country.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Her son, Ron and his wife, Karol, moved in with her in July of 2019. She was honored at the first Pippin Family Reunion in Buena Vista, Colorado, in September 2019.
At the age of 91 years and 4 days, she passed away peacefully December 24, 2019, at 13:13 p.m. with Vicki, her daughter, at her side. She lived the longest of her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Joseph Flowers; parents, Joseph Edde and Ada Mae (Ozbun) Pippin; her siblings and their spouses: Mamie Mae (Homer) Bybee, Dorothy Lucille (Phillip) German and (Andy) Anderson; Ozbun Joseph (Velma Creach) Pippin; Ada Jo (Charles) Edde; Helen Pearl (Ralph) Bentley and (Virgil) Bennett; James Oscar (Theresa Betty Houghton) (June Artie Young) (MaryElizabeth (Fallman) Wilson) (Mary Patricia (Brinkman) Holmes Pippin Sparks) Pippin; and Georgetta (Robert) Harbison (Warren) Lawrence (Lawrence) Chaney; son-in-law, David Eugene Melton; and several nieces and nephews.
Eva is survived by 5 children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren and their spouses, and 16 great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, several nieces and nephews.
Suggested donations can be made to Christian Veterinary Mission, 19303 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133, the Buena Vista Young Life Club (please designate clearly): P.O. Box 2025, Buena Vista, CO 81211; or Valley Fellowship, PO Box 2055, Buena Vista, CO 81211.
Celebration of Eva's life will be held Saturday, January 11, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., at Valley Fellowship, 608 S. San Juan Ave, Buena Vista, Colorado.
~~~~~
Following graduation, Eva returned to Kansas City, and worked at Wilson Sports and Luzier's Cosmetics typing invoices. She lived with another sister, Mamie and her husband, Homer Bybee. She met the Grover family, who were friends of the Bybee's. He was the Superintendent of Rock Island Railroad. They had 5 daughters, whom they asked Eva to care for the rest of the summer at their cabin on the lake in Beloit, Wisconsin. She returned to Urbana that September, renting a room in town and working for Jim and Bonnie Stafford at their Urbana Drug Store.
March, 1947, she left by train to join another sister, Dorothy, and husband, Phillip German, in Buena Vista, Colorado. She found employment as a soda jerk at Schaefer's Drug Store. She met Bob Flowers May 1st, when he returned from the Merchant Marines. She stole his heart with real cream chocolate malts. Bob proposed at a dance on their first date. She turned him down, but he pursued her again asking at the tunnels north of town. Eva returned home to Urbana, Missouri, in August. She got her first driver's license September 24, 1947, in Preston, Hickory, Missouri. Bob and her brother, Oscar, arrived in Urbana, in September, when Bob presented her with an engagement ring. Bob returned home, but came back in December, and they were married December 2, 1947, at the Methodist Church in Urbana, at 3:00 p.m. with her sister, Ada Jo, and brother, Oscar, as witnesses. After their honeymoon at the Oxford Hotel in Denver and a side trip to Tiny Town, they returned to Buena Vista where Bob was proprietor of his late father, Harvey's, Eveready Freight Service. They lived with Bob's widowed mother, Emma, at the west corner of South Pleasant Avenue and Main Street. Eva enjoyed traveling with Bob on his various jobs. With more funds needed, Eva returned to working as a soda jerk at Schaefer's Drug Store. Their first child was stillborn, likely due to an RH factor complication.
Eva moved with Bob to Climax in 1951, where Bob worked in the Transportation Departments. They lived at White Level in a duplex. Vicki, their first child was born in 1951.
They moved to 2nd Street in Climax in 1953. Their first son, Kit, was born that year.
Bartlett Street, in Climax, became their home in 1955, and Jolene was born. Ron was their last child born in 1956.
Eva worked for the Fremont Trading Post in the clothing department sewing alterations. She also made clothes for all of her family. She participated on the Climax wives bowling team.
There was a strike at Climax in 1958. The Flowers' family returned to Buena Vista, to live at 438 School Street, in Bob's mother's one-bedroom home. Eva rededicated her life to Christ and started attending a Bible Study led by Virginia Carpenter. They were building a home west of town, but sold it to Harold and Bobbie Wright, and took a position at Young Life's Rancho Caballo. The family was active in the Buena Vista Congregational Church in town. Eva was busy with rearing her children, cooking for whoever was around, driving horses from Rancho Caballo to Frontier Ranch, removing rocks from the hay fields, putting up hay, caring for newborn animals that would appear in front of the heater in the house, swimming, hiking, tennis, basketball, doing crafts with Young Life wives, …
During the early 1960's, Eva led Bible Studies for high school girls and one for young mothers. Bible studies became a part of her life leading or attending throughout her life.
The family began going to the First Baptist Church around 1962, where she helped care for babies and found people to serve in the nursery. She loved memorizing verses. Eva carried messages to Jim Rayburn, the founder of Young Life, as he worked on creating Trail West. She helped in various jobs as the lodge was built in 1964.
Beginning in 1964, Eva started her career in school bus driving for Rowland Harms that would last until 1979.
John, Bob's brother, Jack's son, arrived in 1965, whom they became guardians for as Jack's wife, Vi had passed away and Jack was in the Merchant Marines. Eva was working at Trail West as head housekeeper, receptionist, reservationist, supply purchaser, kitchen helper, and chalets and condos cleaner. She continued working at Trail West through 1970.
She kept herself busy learning to ski, sewing prom dresses and other clothes for her children and their friends. In the early 1970's, Eva helped on Hotline, a phone connection for people in need of help. She babysat Todd Brookens. She received a Child Evangelism Teacher's Certificate and started holding Good News Clubs in her home.
The year 1978, brought big changes as Eva and Bob returned to 438 School Street and built their home at 112 Hill Street, four children graduated from college, Eva worked at Delaney's Depot as a hostess, played tennis and basketball, and completed an H&R Block course with Jolene. They started the first H&R Block in Buena Vista in 1979 under Evelyn Epp.
Eva made the suit coats for Bob, Kit and Ron, and dresses for Vicki, Jolene, and herself for Kit and Jan's wedding in 1979.
Vicki joined the H&R Block team when Jolene left. Eva began baking pies at Delaney's Depot in 1980. At one point Bob asked when she was going to bake a pie for him to which she replied, "I don't bake pies for love anymore." She stopped hostessing in 1981, and completed her pie baking career in 1983.
She took a counseling course in 1981, through Exchanged Life Ministries and in 1982, took Real Estate classes. She worked for Ken Eigsti at Arkansas Valley Realty Office from 1983-1990. She became a Notary in 1984. She began working for Jane Knowles at Western Horizons Real Estate in 1990. She was involved with the Mission Group at church at this time. She was named director in Chaffee County Board of Realtors for 1991-1992. In 1992, she began her own real estate business, Eva Flowers' Realty. She hired Vicki, her daughter; Karol, her daughter-in-law; and Joshua, her oldest grandson, in 1995.
Eva was featured in Chaffee County Times in 2001. She was a member of American Association of Christian Counselors. She completed another counseling course, "Caring for People God's Way" in 2003. Traveling was another activity that Eva and Bob enjoyed covering many states in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Kenya, Africa.
The loss of her husband, Bob, November 29, 2005, left a huge hole in her life. She closed her office in April of 2006, and joined Century 21 under Dallas Campbell. She was chosen as Best of Chaffee County Realtors in 2007. She retired from Century 21 at the age of 85. Since that time she has filled her schedule with folding bulletins for Valley Fellowship Church, making bread for newcomers in the church, making cookies for coffee hour at the church, supplying meals for those in need, prayer groups, Bible Studies, sewing bags for Treasured and Protected under the direction of Kathy Ruiter, knitting baby blankets for the Buena Vista Pregnancy Center, encouraging people on Facebook and those who would drop in or she would go visit, doing puzzles, playing Skipbo and Hand and Foot. She was adventurous like the time she climbed Angel Falls in her late 80's or snowmobiling with friends a couple years ago. She was going to the gym three days a week up until midsummer of 2019.
Eva began working on FindAGrave February 20, 2010. She let her daughter, Jo, join her in this project as she liked the research end. Eva put many sites in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Buena Vista, Colorado, on this site, as well as for family members and friends around the country.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Her son, Ron and his wife, Karol, moved in with her in July of 2019. She was honored at the first Pippin Family Reunion in Buena Vista, Colorado, in September 2019.
At the age of 91 years and 4 days, she passed away peacefully December 24, 2019, at 13:13 p.m. with Vicki, her daughter, at her side. She lived the longest of her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Joseph Flowers; parents, Joseph Edde and Ada Mae (Ozbun) Pippin; her siblings and their spouses: Mamie Mae (Homer) Bybee, Dorothy Lucille (Phillip) German and (Andy) Anderson; Ozbun Joseph (Velma Creach) Pippin; Ada Jo (Charles) Edde; Helen Pearl (Ralph) Bentley and (Virgil) Bennett; James Oscar (Theresa Betty Houghton) (June Artie Young) (MaryElizabeth (Fallman) Wilson) (Mary Patricia (Brinkman) Holmes Pippin Sparks) Pippin; and Georgetta (Robert) Harbison (Warren) Lawrence (Lawrence) Chaney; son-in-law, David Eugene Melton; and several nieces and nephews.
Eva is survived by 5 children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren and their spouses, and 16 great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, several nieces and nephews.
Suggested donations can be made to Christian Veterinary Mission, 19303 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133, the Buena Vista Young Life Club (please designate clearly): P.O. Box 2025, Buena Vista, CO 81211; or Valley Fellowship, PO Box 2055, Buena Vista, CO 81211.
Celebration of Eva's life will be held Saturday, January 11, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., at Valley Fellowship, 608 S. San Juan Ave, Buena Vista, Colorado.
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