Eva K McKown

Johnston City, IL - Eva Kathryn McKown, 87, born August 21, 1927 in Corinth, Williamson County to Grant and Julia (Knowles) Williams died on Thursday June 4, 2015 at 7:56 A.M.

She was the third child born to this family that would witness more than a few challenges during childhood in the Great Depression.

Very soon after Eva celebrated her first birthday, her father died, leading the family to relocate nearby with the maternal grandparents. While Eva would thrive during the Depression better than many, she would lose both grandparent during her early childhood and soon be estranged for a time from her family when her mother's health issues forced the family to be fractured.

Eva attended #8 School in Williamson County and her freshman year at Johnston City High before being reunited with her mother, sister and brother in Chicago and graduating from Sinn High School.

While on a visit back to Southern Illinois, she was introduced to a handsome man her age and later married Ward McKown in Chicago. They would relocate back to Williamson County and begin their family in the house her father built and where she was born. As their family grew, they purchased a farm where they raised their family. They moved to Johnston City with their youngest son and resided there until her death.

Motherhood was the chosen career for Eva and the singular focus of much of her life. Motherhood to her was not restricted to those children she birthed, but, instead included the children she taught at St Paul's Catholic School during the 1970s, young neighbors, youngsters who visited her home, played with children or just found themselves in her life. Many a young man or woman have called her their "second Mom" and such pronouncements brought her much happiness.

She was at her best when serving up mountains of homemade favorites or coordinating bonfire wiener roasts for dozens of football team members and their dates.
Eva encouraged others to seek an education and showed her commitment to education when she completed her Master's Degree is Clinical Psychology at age 68 after acquiring her Bachelor and Associates Degrees.
Travels across the US, Mexico and Europe provided her education through a different venue. She enjoyed compiling travelogues and sharing presentations at organizational functions.

Eva is survived by her husband and children: sons, Kent (Tracy McSherry) McKown, Kirk (Francie) McKown, and daughter, Julia (Cleat Gan) Moake; grandchildren: Brian (Kathleen) Moake, Bailey McKown, Marshall McKown, Shelby McKown and Maleeah McKown; great grandchildren: Jacqueline Moake and Logan Moake, and numerous nieces and nephews. A son, Keith McKown, proceeded her in death as well as both parents and her siblings.
Among several neighbors and friends, who each held a special place, Glenda, Mary Jean, Jerry, Jess and Teri significantly touched her life by their care and compassion.

Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday June 06, 2015 at the Murman & Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City with Pastor James Cockburn officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Lakeview Cemetery in Johnston City.