Evelyn Fossum

EVELYN KELLY FOSSUM

Marion

Evelyn (Sweeney/Kelly) Fossum, 85, of Edwardsville, Kan., formerly of Marion, died Thursday, March 2, 2017, in Edwardsville.

Funeral services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 6, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 1086 94th St., Kansas City, Kan. Visitation:

5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at Alden-Harrington Funeral Home, 214 Oak St., Bonner Springs, KS 66012.

Survivors include her children, Terry Kelly (Olathe, Kan.), Kathy Gilbrieath (Gardner, Kan.), Ricky Kelly (Santee, Calif.), Kris Battaglia (Littleton, Colo.) and Tim Kelly (Edwardsville); a sister, Darlene (Sweeney) Anderson; grandchildren, Morgan Kelly (Gardner), Alyssa Kelly (Edwardsville) and Tyler Kelly (Edwardsville).

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rose and Mike Sweeney; siblings, Cecilia (Schofield) Sweeney, Ralph Sweeney, Rita Sweeney, Helen (Smorstad) Sweeney, Rosella (Henderson) Sweeney, Ray Sweeney and Leonard Sweeney; and son, Stevie Kelly.

Evelyn "Evie" was born June 14, 1931, in Waukon, Iowa, to Mike and Rose Sweeney and was one of nine children. While attending high school in Waukon, she was elected homecoming queen in her sophomore year. Soon after, Evelyn married (Gerald Kelly, deceased) and settled in Marion, Iowa, where she raised five children and laid to rest one. She later met and married Lowell Fossum and spent the next 23 "wonderful years" with Lowell living and loving life. Evelyn was known as a very "stylish" and "spunky" lady who always would "dress to the nines" no matter the occasion. With a heart much younger than her years, she always was up for a good time and could often be seen celebrating life, laughing and dancing well into her golden years. She always had a place at her table for friend and stranger alike. She enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest and remained very active and sharp until the very end.