Faith Anne Evans

Faith Anne Evans Lovell

Faith Anne Evans Lovell, 88, of Azle, Texas, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving family, on February 23, 2024, after a long life, well lived.  Faith was born April 8, 1935, in Lost Springs, Kansas, to Eva Chadd Evans and Willard Gordon Evans.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Betty Evans Bassham VanZandt, her brother James Edward Evans, and nephew William Howard Bassham, Jr.  She is survived by sisters Gail Evans Casteen of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Debbie Evans Wade of Boyd, Texas, her chosen sister Debbie Biermann of Sedalia, and beloved niece, Shelly Bassham of Jacksonville, Florida, niece Susan Royall and nephews Steve Bassham, Bill, Kalvin and Dan Evans, Evan and Edward Casteen and Brad Kinningham, and numerous great- and great-great- nieces and nephews, all of whom loved her very much. 

Faith graduated with honors from Springdale High School, Springdale, Arkansas, in 1953; graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Ouachita Baptist College, Arkadelphia, Arkansas in 1959, and completed her Master’s Degree in English at Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Missouri in 1969.

Faith married her college sweetheart, Bob Lovell in 1961 in Kenya, East Africa, where they served in Columbia University’s Teachers to East Africa program in Njoro, Kenya.  Faith taught high school English as a Second Language in a local boys’ high school in Njoro. In 1964 the couple returned to the States, following an extended camping tour of Europe.  Throughout her life, Faith enjoyed both international and national travel.

Faith taught in elementary and high schools in Arkansas and Texas and taught Freshman English as a Graduate Assistant at Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Missouri.  In 1970, she began her career at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri, as an English instructor.  She later served as the coordinator and grant writer of the first Title III grant in 1985 and second Title III grant in 1991.  Faith became the Director of Institutional Planning at its inception in 1988.  She retired from State Fair in 1998, and continued as Adjunct Instructor until June 2000.

Faith was heavily involved in various community activities in Sedalia.  She was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church, the Music Club, the Sorosis Club, the Sedalia Kennel Club, the Saddle Club, the Sedalia 2000 Long Range Plan Steering Committee, was a founding member of the Sedalia Community Foundation, served on the Boards of the Sedalia Chamber Foundation and the Ditzfeld Center, and assisted with the annual Scott Joplin Ragtime festivals.

In 2011, Faith moved to Azle, Texas, to be close to her Texas family.  She was a member of the Fort Worth Woman’s Club, Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, as well as the Azle Senior Center, several bridge clubs and Azle’s Boot Scooters linedance group.  Faith loved spending time with her extended family and friends.  She loved horses and dogs (especially her own!), giving horseback riding lessons in Sedalia, playing bridge, playing bridge, teaching bridge (ever the teacher!), linedancing, watching college sports on TV and traveling. In all the groups in which she was involved, Faith gave generously of her time and talents to benefit others. She will be sorely missed by many.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for Friday, May 3, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Calvary Episcopal Church, 713 S. Ohio Avenue, Sedalia, Missouri 65301, with reception following.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Faith’s memory to the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Scott Joplin festival in Sedalia, MO, c/o Sedalia Katy Depot, 600 East Third Street, Sedalia, MO  65301.

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