Beech Tree News Network

On Monday night, July 15, 2019, while surrounded by a large number of family and friends singing, praying and sharing stories of the past, Arrah Wanna (Pendley) Evans, resident of Morgantown, formerly of Provo, Butler Co., Ky. departed her earthly home to be welcomed to her heavenly home for eternity. Oh, what a welcome that must have been!

Arrah "Wanna" was loaned by God to be the daughter of her loving parents Pearl Claude Pendley and Lura Annie (Pendley) Pendley on Nov. 12, 1918.  "Wanna" was one of eight children.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Joseph W. Pendley and Mary E. (Flewallen) Pendley; maternal grandparents Morgan Goforth Pendley and Melinda (Flewallen) Pendley; siblings William Duard Pendley, Edith W. (Pendley) Hawes and husband Eulas, Joe Morgan Pendley, Mary Elizabeth (Pendley) Gaines and husband Kenneth, Vernon Maxwell "Mac" Pendley WWII POW and Claude Douglas "Doug" Pendley; husband of 49 years Royce "Chick" Evans; in laws Robert Ellis Evans and Nova Belle (McKenney) Evans and daughter in law Mary "Toppie" Evans, grandson Robert Wayne "Bob-Skillet" Evans.

She is survived by her sister Anna Pearl Chancellor (Max) of Owensboro; sister in law Marilyn (Barbee) Pendley-Pauls; children Hugh Carroll Evans (Anne Scott), Linda (Evans) Deweese (Robert "Bobby") of Morgantown and Robert Claude "RC" Evans (Vickie) of Powderly; grandchildren Linda Carol (Evans) Staples (Steve) and their children Amanda Staples Logsdon and her son Lee, Pamela Staples and her sons Steven, Sam and Cameron Porter; Lisa Ann (Evans) Goldsmith (Phil) and son Eric Goldsmith of Mississippi,  William Gregory "Greg" Evans (Stacie) and their children Zeb and Zoie Pendley; Shannon Kay Massey (Dale) and daughter Olivia Grace Massey; R. Duane Evans and sons Paul Evans (Missy) and James Royce Evans and Darrin Lee Evans (Abby) and children Makaya Evans and Kristian Evans, Jessica Lynn Evans and children Kirk Luckett and Arrah Lynn Luckett; nieces and great nieces Ann Leslie (Pendley) Talley, Kay Pendley Howard, Nita (McDonald) Boucher, Diane (Strother) Pennington, Trisha Strother Todd, Sharon Gaines Strange, Pam Belcher Laswell, Patty Belcher Nelson, Laurel Lippay, Leslie Pennington, Amanda (Pendley) Smith, Danielle Pendley Darsey, Shiloh Pendley Harr, Mica Harr, Miranda Taylor, Maggie Lannert, Denise Utley, Karyn McIntyre; nephews and great nephews Stan Pendley, Don Gaines, Kevin Chancellor, Matt Gaines, Todd Lusher, Phil Belcher, Tim McDonald and a host of other relatives that all loved her.

Wanna lived a full life during her 100+ years, she loved school and learning.  Her faith in Christ made her strong.  She was respected by all who knew her.  She was the oldest member of Monticello Baptist Church in Provo, where she professed to be a child of God and accepted Jesus as her savior when she was a child.  She and Chick raised their children to trust in the Lord for all things and to lean on him and not their own understanding.  Wanna loved her small community where she started a WMU class, was a 4-H Leader and charter member of the Rural Development Club.  In WWII she and Chick went to Evansville to work and help in the war effort.  Always Patriotic.  She was a member of the Homemaker Club for many years, wrote a community news column, first called Provo, then after moving to Morgantown, after the death of her husband she wrote Here and There for the Green River Republican and Butler County Banner.  She was an active member of the Butler Co. Historical Society and the Butler Co. Chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.  She was a KY Colonel.

After a serious illness in Sept-Oct 2018 she decided to make Morgantown Care and Rehab her home. After Jan. of 2019 there she was "adopted" by many staff members and was lovingly called Mamaw, Momma and Mom.  She enjoyed all the workers coming in to visit, as well as all of her family and friends who were faithful to visit or spend the night with her.  She celebrated her 100th birthday there with over 150 guest attending.  She appreciated doctors Hammad, Tapp and Wan giving of their time to be with her on Nov. 11 and 12.  This writing could go on and on, after all there is a lot to say about a 100 year woman like Arrah Wanna Evans.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, July 19 at 2pm at Monticello Baptist Church with Bro. Randy Burns and Bro. Shane Wells officiating. Burial will follow in the Monticello Baptist Church Cemetery.  Visitation will begin on Thursday, July 18 from 4-8pm and on Friday from 9am-12pm at Smith Funeral Home and Friday, 1pm until time of service at Monticello Baptist Church.

Visit our website www.smithfuneralhomeky.com to share any condolences, memories or photos of Wanna or light a memorial candle.