Obituary of Evelyn Dodd Gunn

Our loving mother and “Mimi”, Evelyn Dodd Gunn, entered into the presence of her heavenly Father on Thursday evening, August 21, 2014. A celebration of Evelyn’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, August 23 in the chapel of Cottle Funeral Home in Troup with the Rev. Clint Covington officiating. Interment will follow at Pinecrest Cemetery in Troup under the direction of Cottle Funeral Home. Following the services, friends and family are invited to gather for a reception to recount the many wonderful memories that Mimi left behind for all to cherish. Evelyn was born to A.M. (Minyard) Dodd Sr. and Ruby Cowles Dodd on November 2, 1918 in Gandy, Louisiana. She was born in the midst of a severe flu epidemic, but she survived that initial scare to live almost 96 years. Her father was the clerk for a large sawmill company, which provided the family not only with sufficient income but also with somewhat of an adventurous lifestyle. Once the timber resources had been depleted in the town of the family’s residence, the Dodds would pack up and move to another location. Because of this, the family relocated approximately every two or three years. Whether it was in Texas, Louisiana or Mississippi, the Dodd house was always filled with love and Evelyn always embraced the new adventures and made many new friends wherever she resided. In 1935 Evelyn married the love of her life, James Hardy Gunn, in Avinger, Texas. Evelyn and Hardy moved to Troup in 1938 when Hardy accepted the position of principal at Troup Elementary School. After several years, Hardy and Evelyn purchased the Sinclair service station in Troup where they not only cared for the automotive needs of the town’s citizens, but also became great friends with all who stopped by for service or just to visit. They loved Troup and Troup loved them! Troup quickly became “home” to Hardy and Evelyn. Here, they lovingly raised their three children – Jimmy, Anthony and Rebecca. Evelyn was always involved in the lives of her children and enjoyed every moment that she spent with them. Not only was she a devoted wife and mother, but she was also a devoted Christian. Evelyn’s faith in Jesus Christ was reflected in the life that she led. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Troup where she taught children’s Sunday school classes for several years. One of her fondest memories was of a trip that she took to Glorietta, New Mexico where she spent a week at the Baptist Youth Encampment with several young girls from her church. Mimi was definitely one-of-a-kind, a rare gem who loved her Savior and loved life. Her ability to tell stories and make others laugh was incomparable. She was beautiful inside and out. Her smile is perhaps one of the features that will be remembered most vividly by her loved ones. It was a smile that prompted Hardy to tell her on numerous occasions, “Come on Honey, show them that million dollar smile!” After Hardy died in 1980, Evelyn continued to live in Troup and played an active role in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She insisted on living independently in her home and did so until the last week of her life, thanks in large part to her friend and caregiver Debbie Alonzo. Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son Jimmy Gunn, her infant son Bobby Eugene Gunn, her brother Col. A.M. Dodd, Jr., her sisters Carolyn Ezell, Maurine Jackson and Johnnie Harris, her sister-in-law Jane Dodd, and her brothers-in-law Elzie Ezell and Ray Jackson. She is survived by her daughter Becky Covington and husband John of Grand Prairie, son Anthony Gunn and wife Ginny of Dickinson, and daughter-in-law Karlene Gunn of Kilgore. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Gregory Gunn, Allen McNickle, Jason Gunn, Casey Covington, Colin Shadwell, and David Persinger. The family would like to request that memorials, if desired, be sent to the charity of your choice.