MINNIE EVELYN (GAINES) BRYANT

MINNIE EVELYN (GAINES) BRYANT - BORN SEPT 1, 1917 IN TULIA, TEXAS

MARRIED JAN. 16, 1938 IN PLAINVIEW, TEXAS

DIED MAY 8, 2008
BURIED IN MISSOULA, MONTANA

WILLIAM CASWELL BRYANT - BORN NOVEMBER 12, 1918 IN MAMBRINO, TEXAS

LANNY WAYNE BRYANT

BORN FEB 5 ,1939

IN AMARILLO ,TEXAS

MARRIED JULY 23 ,1960

IN TACOMA , WASHINGYON

LADY RUSS

BORN SEP. 26 1944

IN FORTWORTH, TX

MARRIED FEB 4,1977

IN MISSOULA, MT

Evelyn M. Bryant

Missoula – Mrs. Evelyn Bryant, 90, passed peacefully into the welcoming arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, May 8, 2008. As her family gathered around her, we talked about the great celebration waiting for her, as her husband of almost 70 years stood waiting for her.

Mom was born September 1, 1917 in Tulia, Texas. In 1924 she and her family moved to Bovina, Texas. She graduated from Bovina High School in 1937 and entered nursing school that fall in Amarillo, Texas.

On January 16, 1938, WC and Evelyn were married, thus beginning the great adventure of Baptist ministry that God had chosen for their life together. Their ministry took them from many towns in Texas, to Colorado Springs, Colorado and Southern California. In September 1993 they moved to Missoula to be near their son, Lanny, his family and their daughter, Lady Russ, and her family.

As the family tried to put into words Mom’s accomplishments we found a poem Dad had written to her which says it much better than we can.

A Man - Because of You

You’ve shared so much of my life;

My plans, my dreams,

My disappointments and joys,

My failures and success.

And in your special way

You’ve known the right thing,

To do and say to show me,

How much you believe in me,

And helped me to believe in myself.

Whatever I have been or have become;

You have made me proud in sharing it,

You have given me strength,

With your unselfishness and love,

And made me glad to be a man –

A man – because of you.

WC Bryant

Mom’s love for Jesus and His Word was evident in her life. She never tired of being in His Word. Early morning would find her at the table studying, until her eyesight became too bad for her to read. She told us that she had spent most of her life studying the scriptures and still at 85 years old Jesus was still reveling new things to her. One of Mom’s favorite scriptures shows her belief about God.

“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: He is a guide to all who trust Him.

2 Samuel 22:31

The family wants to express our love and gratitude to those at The Springs, Memory Care, who helped us care for Mom this past year. Thank you also to our church family and all who have lifted us up through prayer and love. We would like to express a special thank you to Partners Hospice for their tender love for Dad and Mom. We appreciate your compassion and support as we have gone through a difficult year.

Evelyn leaves behind, her son, Lanny (Ann) their five children and 18 grandchildren; her daughter Lady Russ (Brian) their four children and eight grandchildren.

Our prayer as a family is that we will honor our Dad and Mom for generations by doing the following: Love, the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Services will was at 3 pm, Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at the Sunset Memorial Gardens. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation was made to Meadow View Community Church Building Fund, PO Box 17707, Missoula, MT 59808.