Evelyn M. Bales Coursen, age 99, passed peacefully in her sleep at Liberty Hospital on Thurs. Apr. 28 at 3:45 PM.  She was born in Excelsior Springs, MO, on July 16, 1922 to Floyd Bales & Regina Spanier Bales.  She is survived by her daughters, Betty Coursen Reese & Deborah Coursen (David) Greenwood & sisters Dorothy Bales Callicotte, Phyllis Bales Mills Gudde & Sandra (Sandy) Bales Gordon.  She was predeceased by her parents, brothers George, Redmond, Forest (Frosty) & Robert Bales, sons Lyle Edward, Norman, Thomas & Jerry Wayne & her baby daughter Carol Sue.  Evelyn was privileged to have had 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, 23 great-great-grandchildren & 1 great-great-great-granddaughter.  She loved her family very much.  She retired from the office of Krogers in NKC & then, at the age of 55, went to work on the assembly line at Ford Motor Co. in Claycomo until retirement at age 65.  It was no easy feat for a woman her age, especially being only 4’ 9” tall & weighing 110 pounds.  Co-workers called her granny.  She began to travel in her 70s & loved new adventures & sights.  Evelyn became so learned that she worked crossword puzzles with ink pens & knew most of the answers to TV game shows before the contestants.  It was almost impossible to beat her at word games, although her answers were quite often questioned by other players.  She also enjoyed working in the flower gardens until the age of 90, working jigsaw puzzles & crocheting afghans.  She was a long-time member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary at the Excelsior Springs VFW & served for a time as chaplain.  She was a generous & compassionate woman & mother who believed in the saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything”.  

Arrangments in care of Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs