"Pain is the price we pay for love."  Queen Elizabeth

With both sadness and joy, the children of Evelyn Bennett announce her passing from this earth On February 14, 2023. The sadness we feel is natural since we loved her dearly, and she was the rock of our family. Joy is the knowledge that she is in a place of celebration with her Savior, parents, husband, and granddaughter, Mary-Kathryn.

She peacefully passed away after a short illness. Her entire family was surrounding her when she said goodbye.

Her family feels that Valentine's Day was the appropriate day for the passing of a woman who put out so much love and caring into the world. Her Love Language was Gifting and Service, and she showed her love by dropping confetti of kindness wherever she went. She was never judgmental and accepted people as they came. She taught her children to love people and to have a heart for the disadvantaged. One of her favorite sayings was "Be curious, ask questions, try to understand, and don't be judgmental."

She was known as the "Christmas Queen" by her family because she hosted a joyous Christmas Celebration every year featuring a hand-decorated real Christmas tree. Her children brought her ornaments for her trees from all their travels. Her Christmas trees were amazing!

When she was younger, she loved to travel. She saw many countries and would often say "Never stop traveling. Never stop learning."

She was born into humble circumstances on Oct. 10, 1932, to William Marvin Jaggers and Mary Cathryn Jaggers. She was one of eight siblings.

She graduated from Leesburg High School in 1950. At the age of fifty-one, she decided to go to college.  Four years later, she graduated from The University of Florida with Distinction and a 4.0 grade point average. She earned degrees in History, Social Studies, and Special Education. She taught in several schools around Alachua and Columbia Counties upon graduation. Children under her instruction were struck by her dedication. They remember Mrs. Bennett fondly. One said, "When she pointed that finger, you knew she meant business."

Her favorite activities were reading, gardening, playing bridge, watching Jeopardy, playing word games, and planning the next party for her family. If anyone in the family needed to know the answer to any question either big or small, they called Grandma. She was her family's personal Google.

She was a widow whose husband Olen J Bennett passed away in 1982. Mrs. Bennett is survived by her four children: Cynthia (Louis) Shiver, Kirk Bennett, Kevin Bennett, and Kathy Bennett (Karen Purpura). Four grandchildren: Keith (Stephanie) Shiver, Rev Kurt (Ann) Shiver. Kyle and Michael Bennett. Seven great-grandchildren: Kole Shiver, Christian (Hannah) Shiver, Emma, Faith, Will, Julia, and Andrew Shiver. A host of nieces and nephews will never forget their dear "Aunt Evelyn."

She has two remaining siblings: Mildred Jaggers Jones (Lady Lake,) and Frank Jaggers (Suzanne) Leesburg.

Her Celebration of Life will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the Chapel (mausoleum) located at Forest Meadows Cemetery: 4100 NW 39 ^th Ave. Gainesville, FL 32606. One of her former students, Reverend Preston Ganey, and her grandson, Reverend Kurt Shiver will officiate.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Mary-Kathryn Shiver Book Ministry which provides free books to children at Cynthia Shiver 2827 NW CR 292 Mayo, FL 32066.

Please sign the guestbook.