Evelyn Elizabeth Schaefer

Evelyn Elizabeth Schaefer, born February 6,1931 in Belleville, Illinois passed away on April 16, 2024 after a long illness. She died peacefully at The Healthcare Center at Buck Creek in Alabaster, Alabama.
 
 Although born in Belleville, Illinois, home became Ocean Springs, Mississippi in 1959 when her husband Don was transferred to Keesler Air Force Base.  Evelyn was a mother and housewife for the many years her children were growing up.  She lived there until 2012 when she moved to Huntsville, Alabama to live with her daughter Denise.  In 2021, she moved to Alabaster, Alabama to reside at The Healthcare Center at Buck Creek, where her daughter Diane assumed her regular care until her passing.

Nanny as she was affectionately known to those close to her, was a caregiver and often prioritized the comfort and desires of others over her own.  The simplest pleasures in life brought her great joy. She loved quiet occasions with family and friends enjoying conversation and the attention that she would garner as the loving family matriarch. She had an uncanny ability to find happiness in her daily activities and her pleasant personality was contagious to everyone she met.

Evelyn is survived by her three grown children: Diane Van Loan and husband Bob, of Helena, Alabama, Dwayne Schaefer and wife Terry, of Mandeville, Louisiana, and Denise Wurslin and husband Henry (Chip), of Huntsville, Alabama.

She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Brandon Schaefer and wife Jamie, of Mandeville, Louisiana, Jamie Schaefer and fiancé Colleen Holloway, of Covington, Louisiana, Steven Schaefer of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Jordan Stewart and husband Colton, of Grant, Alabama, Landon Wurslin of Huntsville, Alabama, Steven Wurslin and wife Christina, of Spokane, Washington, Jason Van Loan and wife Michelle, of Huntsville, Alabama, and Jamie Butler and husband Tim, of Caledonia, Mississippi.

Evelyn also had fourteen great grandchildren: Preston Wurslin, Sophia Wurslin, Lincoln Wurslin, Cecelia Schaefer, Bowen Schaefer, Georgia Schaefer, Myla Stewart, Austin Stewart, Collins Stewart, Emma Van Loan, Brody Alexander, Logan Alexander, Kadence Butler, and Addison Butler.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 40 years, Donald C. Schaefer; her oldest son, Donald (Dugie) P. Schaefer; her brother, Raymond Lauf; and by her parents, Herman and Christine Lauf.

Visitation will be from 10:30 until service time at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, 911 Porter Avenue, Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  The burial will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park, 4111 Bienville Blvd, Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of Evelyn Elizabeth Schaefer.