Evelyn Stangland

Evelyn L. Stangland, 76, a resident of rural Albion and widow of Rex E. Stangland, passed away on Friday, August 30, 2013, at her home in Noble Township following an extended illness. Mrs. Stangland was born on November 4, 1936 in Fort Wayne, a daughter of Franklin and Annetta (McNeal) Gaff. She spent her formative years in York Township in Noble County, and graduated from Albion High School in 1954. As a young woman she was employed at Peter Eckrich in Fort Wayne, and was married in Merriam on October 28, 1956 to Rex E. Stangland. A dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, she was a homemaker all of her adult life, and also assisted her husband on the family farm. She was a member of the Merriam Christian Chapel, and was a founding member of both the Happy Homemakers Extension Club,and the Snappy Hatters Red Hat Society. Mr. Stangland preceded her in death on July 25, 2013. The surviving relatives include her two daughters, Deborah (Jerel) Shively of Columbia City and Dawn (Michael) Taylor of Greenville; two sons, David (Louise) Stangland and Daniel (Emily) Stangland both of Albion; a sister-in-law Emma Jeanne Gaff of Winchester; a brother-in-law Garold E. "Gene" Boggs of Churubusco; 16 grandchildren, Adam (Annette) Shively, Amy (Weston) Perry, Andrew (Elizabeth) Shively, Benjamin (Jarin) Shively, Bryce (Anna) Shively, Sarah and Megan Taylor, Ethan, Allison, Annetta, and Everett Stangland, Eli (Audra) Stangland, Neal (Lauren) Stangland, Ted, Abe, and Ruby Stangland; and three great-grandchildren Austin, Avery, and Ace Shively. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister Mellie Boggs; and by her brother Clarence Gaff. Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2013, at the Merriam Christian Chapel with Pastors Steve Pulley and Dwayne Berna, officiating. The family will receive friends in the church multi-purpose room on Monday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Tuesday morning. Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam. Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is in charge of the arrangements. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Merriam Christian Chapel Building Fund or Gideon's International. ****************************