The full life of Dr. Evelyn E. Claxton came to a peaceful end Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at the age of 87, with family by her side at McKnight Place in Clayton, Mo.
Dr. Claxton was born March 29, 1924, in Calloway County, Ky., the daughter of Elbert F. and Cora T. (McCuiston) Phillips.
Surviving relatives include her children and their spouses; grandchildren.
Evelyn is also survived by one sister, of Hamilton, Ohio; brothers; sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Claxton; parents; brother, Jack Phillips; sister-in-law, Pam Phillips; brother-in-law, Paul Laubenstein; and sister, Dr. Patsy Kollen.
Dr. Claxton was an elder and organist-choir director for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Benton.
Her love for English and journalism blossomed in high school as the editor of the Hazel Park High School paper in Hazel Park, Mich., and later while working at the Michigan Daily newspaper at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor for three years, serving as the first woman managing editor in 1945.
She also worked as a reporter for two years at Detroit Free Press. Her education began with the acquisition of her B.A. in English at University of Michigan in 1945. She earned an M.A. in English at University of Michigan in 1946 and a Ph.D. in English in 1970 from University of Kansas.
Dr. Claxton retired from Rend Lake College in Ina as the Arts and Communications Department chairwoman in 1983 after having first joined the full-time faculty as an English/journalism instructor in 1970.
Her distinguished career in education began in 1947 at University of Missouri in the English de-partment. It was during this time that she met the love of her life and married her husband of 49 years, Fred Claxton. Along the way, she taught at Stephen's College in Columbia, Mo., and then Henry Ford Community College in Michigan as a journalism instructor.
In the mid-1950s, Dr. Claxton worked briefly as a social case worker for the adoption department, ju-venile court, in Kansas City, Mo. Her passion for teaching led her back to a part-time teaching position in 1954 with University of Kansas until 1962, when she moved to National College in Kansas City, Mo., serving as an instructor and department chairwoman.
A family move to Southern Illinois led her to the position at Rend Lake College, where, during her career, she was awarded the Distinguished Educator Award in 1971-72, Distinguished Adviser Award given by National Council of College Publication Advisers in 1973 and was listed as a National Out-standing Educator in 1974 in the Directory of American Scholars.
In retirement, Dr. Claxton proudly remained an active volunteer of Rend Lake College, teaching Bible as literature classes and writing classes for Institute for Learning in Retirement. In 2005, she was presented with the state's top Lifelong Learning "Outstanding Instructor Award."
When she was not volunteering her time with a variety of organizations and services, Evelyn enjoyed her time at her home on Lake Benton. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed canoeing on the lake, listening to classical music, hiking or just enjoying the rewards of a good book.
Join us in celebrating the life of Dr. Evelyn E. Claxton at 11 a.m. Monday, June 20, 2011, in Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfortg.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 19, 2011, at the funeral home. Interment will be in Tower Heights Cemetery in West Frankfort.
Dr. Claxton was born March 29, 1924, in Calloway County, Ky., the daughter of Elbert F. and Cora T. (McCuiston) Phillips.
Surviving relatives include her children and their spouses; grandchildren.
Evelyn is also survived by one sister, of Hamilton, Ohio; brothers; sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Claxton; parents; brother, Jack Phillips; sister-in-law, Pam Phillips; brother-in-law, Paul Laubenstein; and sister, Dr. Patsy Kollen.
Dr. Claxton was an elder and organist-choir director for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Benton.
Her love for English and journalism blossomed in high school as the editor of the Hazel Park High School paper in Hazel Park, Mich., and later while working at the Michigan Daily newspaper at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor for three years, serving as the first woman managing editor in 1945.
She also worked as a reporter for two years at Detroit Free Press. Her education began with the acquisition of her B.A. in English at University of Michigan in 1945. She earned an M.A. in English at University of Michigan in 1946 and a Ph.D. in English in 1970 from University of Kansas.
Dr. Claxton retired from Rend Lake College in Ina as the Arts and Communications Department chairwoman in 1983 after having first joined the full-time faculty as an English/journalism instructor in 1970.
Her distinguished career in education began in 1947 at University of Missouri in the English de-partment. It was during this time that she met the love of her life and married her husband of 49 years, Fred Claxton. Along the way, she taught at Stephen's College in Columbia, Mo., and then Henry Ford Community College in Michigan as a journalism instructor.
In the mid-1950s, Dr. Claxton worked briefly as a social case worker for the adoption department, ju-venile court, in Kansas City, Mo. Her passion for teaching led her back to a part-time teaching position in 1954 with University of Kansas until 1962, when she moved to National College in Kansas City, Mo., serving as an instructor and department chairwoman.
A family move to Southern Illinois led her to the position at Rend Lake College, where, during her career, she was awarded the Distinguished Educator Award in 1971-72, Distinguished Adviser Award given by National Council of College Publication Advisers in 1973 and was listed as a National Out-standing Educator in 1974 in the Directory of American Scholars.
In retirement, Dr. Claxton proudly remained an active volunteer of Rend Lake College, teaching Bible as literature classes and writing classes for Institute for Learning in Retirement. In 2005, she was presented with the state's top Lifelong Learning "Outstanding Instructor Award."
When she was not volunteering her time with a variety of organizations and services, Evelyn enjoyed her time at her home on Lake Benton. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed canoeing on the lake, listening to classical music, hiking or just enjoying the rewards of a good book.
Join us in celebrating the life of Dr. Evelyn E. Claxton at 11 a.m. Monday, June 20, 2011, in Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfortg.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 19, 2011, at the funeral home. Interment will be in Tower Heights Cemetery in West Frankfort.
The full life of Dr. Evelyn E. Claxton came to a peaceful end Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at the age of 87, with family by her side at McKnight Place in Clayton, Mo.
Dr. Claxton was born March 29, 1924, in Calloway County, Ky., the daughter of Elbert F. and Cora T. (McCuiston) Phillips.
Surviving relatives include her children and their spouses; grandchildren.
Evelyn is also survived by one sister, of Hamilton, Ohio; brothers; sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Claxton; parents; brother, Jack Phillips; sister-in-law, Pam Phillips; brother-in-law, Paul Laubenstein; and sister, Dr. Patsy Kollen.
Dr. Claxton was an elder and organist-choir director for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Benton.
Her love for English and journalism blossomed in high school as the editor of the Hazel Park High School paper in Hazel Park, Mich., and later while working at the Michigan Daily newspaper at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor for three years, serving as the first woman managing editor in 1945.
She also worked as a reporter for two years at Detroit Free Press. Her education began with the acquisition of her B.A. in English at University of Michigan in 1945. She earned an M.A. in English at University of Michigan in 1946 and a Ph.D. in English in 1970 from University of Kansas.
Dr. Claxton retired from Rend Lake College in Ina as the Arts and Communications Department chairwoman in 1983 after having first joined the full-time faculty as an English/journalism instructor in 1970.
Her distinguished career in education began in 1947 at University of Missouri in the English de-partment. It was during this time that she met the love of her life and married her husband of 49 years, Fred Claxton. Along the way, she taught at Stephen's College in Columbia, Mo., and then Henry Ford Community College in Michigan as a journalism instructor.
In the mid-1950s, Dr. Claxton worked briefly as a social case worker for the adoption department, ju-venile court, in Kansas City, Mo. Her passion for teaching led her back to a part-time teaching position in 1954 with University of Kansas until 1962, when she moved to National College in Kansas City, Mo., serving as an instructor and department chairwoman.
A family move to Southern Illinois led her to the position at Rend Lake College, where, during her career, she was awarded the Distinguished Educator Award in 1971-72, Distinguished Adviser Award given by National Council of College Publication Advisers in 1973 and was listed as a National Out-standing Educator in 1974 in the Directory of American Scholars.
In retirement, Dr. Claxton proudly remained an active volunteer of Rend Lake College, teaching Bible as literature classes and writing classes for Institute for Learning in Retirement. In 2005, she was presented with the state's top Lifelong Learning "Outstanding Instructor Award."
When she was not volunteering her time with a variety of organizations and services, Evelyn enjoyed her time at her home on Lake Benton. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed canoeing on the lake, listening to classical music, hiking or just enjoying the rewards of a good book.
Join us in celebrating the life of Dr. Evelyn E. Claxton at 11 a.m. Monday, June 20, 2011, in Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfortg.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 19, 2011, at the funeral home. Interment will be in Tower Heights Cemetery in West Frankfort.
Dr. Claxton was born March 29, 1924, in Calloway County, Ky., the daughter of Elbert F. and Cora T. (McCuiston) Phillips.
Surviving relatives include her children and their spouses; grandchildren.
Evelyn is also survived by one sister, of Hamilton, Ohio; brothers; sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Claxton; parents; brother, Jack Phillips; sister-in-law, Pam Phillips; brother-in-law, Paul Laubenstein; and sister, Dr. Patsy Kollen.
Dr. Claxton was an elder and organist-choir director for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Benton.
Her love for English and journalism blossomed in high school as the editor of the Hazel Park High School paper in Hazel Park, Mich., and later while working at the Michigan Daily newspaper at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor for three years, serving as the first woman managing editor in 1945.
She also worked as a reporter for two years at Detroit Free Press. Her education began with the acquisition of her B.A. in English at University of Michigan in 1945. She earned an M.A. in English at University of Michigan in 1946 and a Ph.D. in English in 1970 from University of Kansas.
Dr. Claxton retired from Rend Lake College in Ina as the Arts and Communications Department chairwoman in 1983 after having first joined the full-time faculty as an English/journalism instructor in 1970.
Her distinguished career in education began in 1947 at University of Missouri in the English de-partment. It was during this time that she met the love of her life and married her husband of 49 years, Fred Claxton. Along the way, she taught at Stephen's College in Columbia, Mo., and then Henry Ford Community College in Michigan as a journalism instructor.
In the mid-1950s, Dr. Claxton worked briefly as a social case worker for the adoption department, ju-venile court, in Kansas City, Mo. Her passion for teaching led her back to a part-time teaching position in 1954 with University of Kansas until 1962, when she moved to National College in Kansas City, Mo., serving as an instructor and department chairwoman.
A family move to Southern Illinois led her to the position at Rend Lake College, where, during her career, she was awarded the Distinguished Educator Award in 1971-72, Distinguished Adviser Award given by National Council of College Publication Advisers in 1973 and was listed as a National Out-standing Educator in 1974 in the Directory of American Scholars.
In retirement, Dr. Claxton proudly remained an active volunteer of Rend Lake College, teaching Bible as literature classes and writing classes for Institute for Learning in Retirement. In 2005, she was presented with the state's top Lifelong Learning "Outstanding Instructor Award."
When she was not volunteering her time with a variety of organizations and services, Evelyn enjoyed her time at her home on Lake Benton. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed canoeing on the lake, listening to classical music, hiking or just enjoying the rewards of a good book.
Join us in celebrating the life of Dr. Evelyn E. Claxton at 11 a.m. Monday, June 20, 2011, in Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfortg.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 19, 2011, at the funeral home. Interment will be in Tower Heights Cemetery in West Frankfort.
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