Evelyn R. Cunningham was born October 2, 1923, to William and Viola Demming.
She passed away on June 11, 2022. Evelyn was born and raised in Scranton, PA. In 1944 she married John R. Cunningham on January 16, 1944, while he was serving in the Army Air Force WWII. They stayed in Scranton after the war until 1950 when they moved to Pennsauken, NJ.
Over the years Evelyn had many different jobs. She worked in the office of a candy company; she opened a gift shop and ceramic studio. After her husband died in Mar. 1963, she did some substitute teaching and then worked for a special needs program. She had a rooming house in Ocean City, NJ while she was taking classes at Glassboro College. She remarried and moved to Ellenton, Fl. They opened E & C ceramics, where she taught classes. After her divorce, she went to work in a couple of different places but her last job was for Swanson’s, where she packed commissary orders for prisoners. She retired at 81.
Evelyn was very active in her community no matter where she lived. She was a Girl Scout for the last 75+ years. She was an arts and craft counselor at scout camp, a troop leader, cookie mom and any other job they needed at the time.
In 1989 she joined Manatee Grange so she could be part of their camping group. She held many offices in the local Grange. She served as Vice President and President for Tamiami Pomona. On the state level, she served as Deaf Chairman and Director of Family Affairs for many, many years. She enjoyed traveling to National conventions and other states with her daughter.
For 80 years she was a member of the Eastern Star. She served as Worthy Matron in 1963 in Catherine Chambers Chapter in NJ. After moving to Florida, she was a member of the Palmetto Chapter, until it closed. She then joined Bradenton #87 Chapter.
Evelyn loved to travel and enjoyed the beauty of our country. At 70 she and a friend drove across the country to visit national parks for 4 months in her conversion van. She also traveled out of the US to visit several other countries. She was delighted to visit her Grandsons serving in the military in March and April of 2022.
She was an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Parrish, Fl for many years. She helped with the craft program for Vacation Bible School, was a member of the ladies' bible study, and each year helped pack shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. She was an inspiration to many in the church.
She is survived by her daughter Barbara Borderieux, Pal. Fl, stepdaughter Marlene Thrasher Boca Raton FL. Granddaughter Barbara Brunner (David), Granddaughter Charlotte Brunner (Gregory), Grandson Franklyn Borderieux III, 8 great-grandchildren and one Great-Great Grandson, some cousins and a niece and nephew.
Memorial service will be held June 25th at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 8305 US-301, Parrish, Fl. The service will be held from 4 pm.-5 p.m. She will be buried in Beverly National Cemetery in NJ, at a later date.
