Solita K. Evers Mathis

To join the livestream of the funeral service for Solita Kay Evers Mathis, please select the link below. The livestream will begin at 10:50 AM Thursday morning, October 13, 2022. https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1665288795212448 Solita Kay Evers Mathis, age 75 years, a resident of Cypress, Illinois, passed away Saturday morning, October 8, 2022, at 1:04 AM, at her home. Solita was born August 26, 1947 at the former Holden Hospital in Carbondale, Illinois. She was the daughter of Charles Robert “Daddy Bob” Evers and Lu Dean (Lentz) Evers. Solita is survived by: her children – Christie (her husband, Roy) West of Cypress, Christopher (his wife, Amy) Mathis of Steeleville, and Jackie (her husband, Don) Hileman of Cypress; 8 grandchildren – Bruce (his wife, Sarah) West, Bryan (his wife, Brittney) West, Bradley (his wife, Madi) West, Victor Mathis, Rusty Mathis, Josh Mixen, Amber (her husband, David) Rady, and Erin (her husband, Coby) Creamer; 15 great grandchildren; a very special niece – Jennifer (her husband, Brandon) Osman and their son, Gunner of Cypress, and a nephew – Jay (his wife, Rachel) Gunn and their children, Jeremiah, Sidney, and Chloe of Marion, a brother-in-law – Steve W. Van Hook; a former brother-in-law – Kenny (his wife, Becky) Mathis; as well as other relatives and a host of dear friends and neighbors. In addition to her parents, Solita was preceded in death by: her sister – Robby Evers Van Hook; a great niece, Emily; and her grandparents – P.D. and Lu Ella Lentz & John and Ivo Evers. Solita was a 1965 graduate of Vienna High School. She attended Brown’s Business College in Paducah, Kentucky and also earned her C.N.A. (Certified Nurse Assistant) training at Shawnee Community College. Solita began working in her grandparents business, P.D. Lentz General Store, in Cypress when she was 10 years old. Her parents worked alongside her grandparents in the operation of the family business. In 1968, her father opened Bob Evers’ Lumber Company. Solita worked in all facets of the business. She also worked as a restaurant cook and, in the early 1980’s, was employed by Ozark Ovens. Solita was then employed by Choate Mental Health as a mental health technician II. She retired in 1994. Solita had a deep respect and appreciation for the military, stemming from the time her father was a prisoner of war (P.O.W.) during World War II. She was a very active member of the Johnson County Desert Shield and Desert Storm support group, during the time her son, Christopher, was deployed in military service. Solita also enjoyed watching any movie with a World War II theme. Solita had a deep love of family and community. She cherished time spent with her family and friends and was always willing to give of her time, talent and energies for a variety of community and Cypress Grade School related projects. She was a familiar face at many school events. She loved to volunteer at the school’s annual Christmas Santa cottage. Her church, Bethany Baptist Church, was a very important part of her life as well. Solita worked for many years in the church nursery and volunteered during the annual church Vacation Bible School. Solita had a great love of children and enjoyed caring for them. In addition to her service in the nursery and children’s department at the church, she assisted her daughter, Christie, in providing babysitting and day care service. She has made and given away countless baby quilts. Solita was also a devoted Elvis Presley fan. A funeral service honoring the life of Solita Kay Evers Mathis will be conducted Thursday morning, October 13, 2022, at 11 AM at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Pastor Jay Franklin and Pastor Pete Vinson will officiate. Musical selections will be offered by Christine Ross and Pastor Steve Heisner. Burial will be in the Cypress Cemetery. Visitation will be conducted Wednesday, October 12, 2022, from 5 PM - 8 PM at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Visitation will also be conducted Thursday, October 13, 2022, from 10 AM - 11 AM at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Bethany Baptist Church, 555 Bethany Church Road, Cypress, Illinois 62923 or to the Cypress Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 140, Cypress, IL 62923. Honored to serve as active pallbearers will be: Christopher Mathis, Roy West, Bruce West, Bryan West, Bradley West and Don Hileman. Honorary pallbearers will be Victor Mathis, Rusty Mathis, and Gunner Osman.

Solita K. Evers Mathis

August 26, 1947 - October 8, 2022