Evelyn D. Hyden

Evelyn D. Hyden, who had lived near Thornton, and in Groesbeck, the last four years (and formerly in Illinois,) passed away at Groesbeck LTC on Saturday, September 6, 2014. She was 93. Evelyn was born June 24, 1921 in East Saint Louis, Illinois to Charles W. and Marguerite (Root) Hook. She was first united in marriage with Donald L. Wood in September 1940. From this union were born five children: Doris, Larry, Donna, Beverly, and Randy. Later in life, she was united in marriage with Tomas E. Hyden on August 25, 1988, in Forest City, Arkansas. Mr. Hyden passed away July 6, 2002. Mrs. Hyden worked as an interior decorator in her younger years, along with her first husband. They owned and operated a home building company in Belleville, Illinois in the 1950's. Evelyn was a member of the Second Baptist Church of Herrin, Illinois. She was an accomplished musician on the piano. She was also a published poet with the International Library of Poetry, from whom she received the Editors Choice Award in February 2002. She was a published autobiographer detailing her life in "Third Time is the Charm". She was a former member of the Order of Eastern Star. Mrs. Hyden was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one sister, Viola Kippng; and two brothers, Donald Hook and Robert Hook. She is survived by three daughters, Doris Lemley of Thornton, Tx., Donna Savoy and husband Kenneth Savoy of New Waverly, Tx., and Beverly King of Longview, Tx.; two sons, Larry Wood and wife Linda Wood, and Randall (Randy) Wood and wife Joanne Wood of Belleville, Illinois; and thirteen grandchildren. She also leaves a brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Jeanette Hook of Carmi, Illinois; sister and brother-in-law, Edna and Jerry Boswell of Salem, Illinois; and sister, Barbara Chappus of Benton, Illinois.