Published on October 12, 2025 5:13 pm
Last Updated on October 13, 2025 2:56 pm
Evea Eileen Davidson went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in her heavenly home at 4:55 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2025 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, Illinois. There she joined many dear family members and friends who had preceded her.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 16, 2025 at the First Baptist Church, Altamont with Pastor Bill Weaver officiating. Burial will follow at Watson Cemetery. Visitation will be held 9 a.m. until service time on Thursday at the church. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or Carmi Baptist Children’s Home. Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont is assisting the family with arrangements.
Evea was born the 6th of eleven children and the 2nd daughter of Walter W. and Jessie E. (Workman) Vail on Monday, May 24, 1937. She was born in Clarkston Co. Michigan when her family moved there due to a drought in 1936 in Illinois. While in Michigan, her father was able to provide for his family by working for some dairy farmers. However, when Evea was 4 years old, her family returned to Effingham Co. Illinois where she grew up. Evea attended a one room school (Defiance School) in the Effingham School District for the first 3 years and then attended a 2 room school (Devore School) from the 4th through 8th grade. Her 8th grade class was the last class held at Devore School as the Altamont rural schools were then consolidated into the Altamont Unit 10. Evea attended High School at Altamont High School graduating with the class of 1955. After graduating from high school, Evea went to work in the office of Dr. Judson V. Phillips, first as receptionist and then learning to assist Dr. Phillips and Dr. Wendell. This included learning to do some lab work and also x-rays. Evea became a Christian at the age of 20. On December 14, 1957 she married Lawrence (Art) Davidson and retired from the doctor’s office to be a stay-at-home mom. She and Art became the parents of a daughter, Virginia Diane, and two sons, Paul A. and Michael G. Davidson. During the years Art and Evea bought 20 acres south on the Dexter Road and in the early 70’s they built a new home to replace the house there. Evea did work in the Accounting Department at Fedders for 8 years and in the Accounting Department at Keller Oil for 8 years but her first love was serving her Lord which she did as a Sunday School teacher for 50 plus years at the Altamont Baptist Church. She also taught in VBS and evening church training classes. Her 2nd love was her husband Art and her family. Her next loves were horseback riding, spending time with the dogs, reading, and amateur acrylic painting.
She is survived by; daughter, Diane (David) Healy of Carmi; grandsons, Mark (Jennifer) Healy, great-grandson, Myles, Adam Healy and Ethan (Brenda) Healy; great-granddaughter, Adalyn and great-grandsons, Aiden and Luca Healy; son, Paul (Diane) Davidson of Greenville; grandson, Dr. Bryan (Ashley) Davidson; great-granddaughters, Kate and Jade Davidson; son, Michael (Debbie) Davidson of Strasburg; granddaughters, Samantha Radloff; great-grandsons, Mason and Parker and Jennifer (Brian) Vahling; great-granddaughters, Charlotte ‘Charley’, Savannah and Madilyn; brothers, Gary (Jane) Vail, Charlotte, NC, Darrell Vail, Altamont; sisters, Mary Kienietz and Lois (Jim) Smith, Belleville, IL.
She was preceded in death by; her husband; grandson, Tyler Davidson; brothers, Ralph, Don, Kenneth, Bob and Dick; sister, Virginia Holland; 5 sisters-in-law; and 2 brothers-in-law.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.giesekingfh.com.