Evalie Breeding, 99, departed this life, on Sept. 20, 2022, at Life Care of Sparta Assisting Living.
Evalie was a native of Smyrna. She was a late Christmas present born Dec., 26, 1922. Her parents were William Crawford Ridley and Mary Emma Young Ridley. She had three older brothers Gip, Sam, and Knox. Her older sister was Janie.
Evalie was a very petite person, and she was blessed with a vivacious personality and a great sense of humor.
She attended Tennessee College for Women, in Murfreesboro. Her professional career took her to Europe for some time. Then she joined the staff of Estes Kefauver and lived in Washington D.C. While she was a personal secretary to Kefauver, he was running for re-election. Fate stepped in then. Bob Breeding from Sparta was the Upper Cumberland District Campaign Manager for Senator Kefauver. There was a campaign meeting set up in McMinnville, with Evalie, Bob, and Kefauver all in attendance.
The rest is history. Evalie and Bob married March 3, 1961. Evalie found her place, in Sparta, as a new wife and partner as well as a mother to Bob's young son, Robert, and his daughter, Jackie. (The children's mother had been lost to cancer.) Evalie later adopted both children. She helped Bob in his insurance business as well as keeping books for some other small businesses. When Bob became mayor, Evalie worked tirelessly entertaining and feeding many prospective industries personnel.
Evalie, Bob, and the children enjoyed many happy hours at the boathouse, at Center Hill Lake, swimming, skiing, boating, and fishing. During retirement, Evalie and Bob still had a lot of fun with playing tennis and golf. They also loved to play bridge tournaments.
Evalie was a member of First Baptist Church of Sparta. She loved caring for the babies in the nursery.
After Bob died, in 2012, Evalie stayed in Sparta for two years. When her health began declining, she moved to Morning Point, in Brentwood, to be closer to Jackie. After Jackie's unexpected death, in 2019, Evalie moved back to Sparta to Life Care Center of Sparta in assisted living. Her family is most grateful to the staff for the loving care Evalie received there.
Evalie is survived by her son, Robert, and his wife, Ann, as well as granddaughters, Libby Breeding and Kristin McCord. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Louise Breeding Young, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Per Evalie's request, there was no formal funeral. She requested only a graveside service.
Graveside service was 10 a.m., Sept. 24, 2022, at Oak Lawn Cemetery.
Oak Lawn Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
