Evelyn Gustafson

A celebration of life for Evelyn Gustafson, 98, of Cleburne will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 in the Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel. Pastor Zane Mitchell and Mr. Alvin Robinson will officiate. She will be laid to rest in Rosehill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Andy Wildhaber, John Whitehorn, Windfield Basham, Clancy Mitchell, Mike Hudgins and Taylor Berry. Visitation will be from 6-8:00 P.M., Tuesday, at the funeral home.
Evelyn Gustafson went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 in Ft. Worth. She was born Aug. 3, 1918 in Vandalia, IL to Matthew and Gertrude Quinces Frakes. She graduated high school in 1936 and graduated Southern Illinois University in 1943 with a major in sociology and minors in English and geography. She went on to earn a master’s degree in religious education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1945. She served as youth director, Highland Baptist Church, Shreveport, LA, then education director, First Baptist Church of Denton, where she met the love of her life, Eric Gustafson, whom she married on Sept. 30, 1950. In 1952 they moved to Cleburne and opened their first business, which led to many retail businesses here in town. They were members of First Baptist Church from 1952-1979 when they moved their membership to Cleburne Christian Center and still was very active in her church, now called Deeper Life Christian Fellowship. They were known as the power couple in their faith, their family, and their community. They were instrumental in helping form the Republican Party in Johnson County, where she served in many different positions. She also served on the advisory board under the leadership of our Sheriff Bob Alford in training and strengthening law enforcement programs in Johnson County.
Survivors include her sons, John Gustafson II and wife Lesa of Glen Rose and Ronnie Lee Kennedy and wife Louise of Washington; four grandchildren, Eric Gustafson, Jauna Gustafson, Jaymze Kennedy and Sierra Kennedy; three great grandchildren, Kylie, Carter, and Bentlee; and a host of other relatives and friends who loved her greatly. She was preceded in death by her parents; foster daughter, Grace Shahid; three brothers, Glen E. Frakes, Wendell Frakes and Raymond M. Frakes; and twin sisters, Bonita Branham and Juanita Sidener.
Memorials may be made to: Gideon’s International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214 or Deeper Life Christian Fellowship Missions Fund, PO Box 1564, Cleburne, TX 76033. Both of these were dear to her heart.