Evelyn Myrtle Koning
Evelyn Myrtle Koning died of natural causes on September 27, 2025 at Hope Landing Assisted Living in Charlotte, Michigan, within a week of her 96th birthday.
Evelyn was born on October 3, 1929 to Wendell W. and Olive E. (Bennett) DeMeritt, on the farm of Edward O. F. DeMeritt near Morenci, Michigan. She was raised through the depression years by her parents, and by Aunt Lillian Porter of Morenci while her parents worked in Florida. She attended a range of schools including Sand Creek High School and Adrian High School, where she graduated in 1947 as class valedictorian. She married her high-school sweetheart, Robert P. Sears on August 29, 1948. Evelyn delivered daughter N. Kathleen in 1950, but Robert was tragically killed in a trucking accident later that year.
Evelyn went into nurses training, where she met David R. Koning, a patient in the Adrian hospital. David and Evelyn were married on September 20, 1952. Evelyn delivered son Ross E. in 1953, daughter M. Christine in 1955, and son Paul D. in 1957. The family moved to Charlotte, Michigan in 1958. Evelyn enjoyed sewing, cooking, gardening, canning, freezing, decorating, hosting parties, and sold World Book Encyclopedias, as she raised her four children into middle-school age. She then entered Lansing Community College and Michigan State University to earn her Bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate (1970), and her Master’s degree in Reading (1972). She started teaching at Charlotte Junior High School in 1971 and retired from Galewood Elementary School in 1991.
Evelyn joined her first church as a youth and encouraged her parents to join. She and both husbands were church members. All of her children were baptized and became members of Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church in Charlotte. Family life always included the church. Evelyn was a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent. She was a Cub Scout den mother and a Campfire Girls leader. She had a beautiful singing voice and provided many solo performances. Evelyn was an active member of the Order of Eastern Star, served a term as Worthy Matron, and was its Chaplain for many years.
Living to the age of 95, she was preceded in death by her forebears; husbands; brother, William W. DeMeritt; and two sons-in-law. She is survived by her four children, 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. A celebration of life for Evelyn will be held at 210 East Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church in Charlotte on November 16, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.; in lieu of flowers, memorial donations are welcome at the church. Her family will inter the cremains of David and Evelyn Koning at Oak Grove Cemetery in Morenci, Michigan on November 17, 2025.