Evelyn Robertson Flippo's Obituary
Evelyn Robertson Flippo, longtime resident of Powhatan (Lawrence County), entered into heavenly rest Sunday, Jan. 4, in Bentonville, following a brief illness.
The daughter of T.M. (Mose) and Edith Beeler Robertson, she was born Oct. 28, 1922, at Mount Vernon community near Black Rock. She graduated from Black Rock High School in 1941, and married Robert L. Flippo Jr. on Nov. 24, 1945.
A substitute teacher and postal clerk in her early years, she devoted most of her life to raising and supporting her family. Musically inclined, she enjoyed cooking, sewing, needlepoint and ceramics. She and her husband also operated Lake Charles Boat Dock for many years.
Mrs. Flippo followed her motto to “go the second mile” and encouraged others to do the same. Firm in her convictions, she led by example, whether she was working for historic preservation, implementing community service projects, assisting with her children’s education, or carrying on the work of Powhatan United Methodist Church, where she was member for nearly 70 years.
Her dedication and determination is evident in her 30 years of work in historical preservation. After helping reactivate the Lawrence County Development Council in the 1960s, she served as chairman of the Powhatan Courthouse Restoration Committee. She secured widespread support from the generous citizens of Lawrence County and Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, who sent preservation experts from Colonial Williamsburg.
When Lawrence County consolidated its courthouses to Walnut Ridge, she assembled volunteers to sort, file, and preserve abandoned documents. Restoration of the courthouse, completed in 1973, sparked life into the town of Powhatan as the 1888 Courthouse became the anchor for Powhatan Historic State Park. As a volunteer and then program director at the State Park for 15 years, Mrs. Flippo communicated the importance of the Powhatan projects and worked with the Arkansas History Commission to provide proper preservation of the courthouse records. She also assisted the Mormon Church with microfilming the records.
She was involved in documenting all of the historical buildings in Powhatan named to the National Register of Historic Places, including the Imboden-Ficklin log house, Telephone Exchange Building, Jail, Powhatan Male and Female Academy, and the Powhatan United Methodist Church. She also provided research to assist Old Davidsonville State Park.
A member of the Lawrence County Historical Society for 30 years, she served as president and vice president. She and members of the Lawrence County Historical Society advocated Powhatan’s preservation as an example of a 19th century Arkansas community.
Last spring, the Arkansas Historical Association presented its Award of Merit to Mrs. Flippo for her efforts to preserve the valuable historic Lawrence County records, which now form the basis of the collection held at the Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives (NEARA). Some of the records are 200 years old.
Her research into the county’s history also provided information for interpretative exhibits and provided the basis for numerous club presentations. Northeast Arkansas school children who visited the Courthouse Museum gained insight into their heritage through her presentation of "Grandma's Trunk." She scripted and sometimes acted in trial reenactments in the historic courtroom.
She participated in the “Mother of Counties” Pageants, which celebrated Lawrence County’s place in Arkansas history, in 1964, 1965 and 1976. In addition to presenting workshops for Northeast Arkansas teachers, she frequently assisted college and high school students with research for papers and made friends across the United States by helping them with genealogical research.
Active in the Powhatan Home Demonstration Club, she served as a 4-H Club leader for many years, guiding the development of numerous young people in the Powhatan community. Her other civic service work included the Black Rock Boy Scouts and Black Rock School.
In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by four sisters and eight brothers.
Survivors include four children, Suzanne Hager of Jonesboro, Darlene (Tom) Moore of Walnut Ridge, Robert M. (Melissa) Flippo of Bella Vista. and Miriam (Randell) Smith of Fayetteville; a sister, Betty Jean McCarty of Lima, Ohio; and six grandchildren, Jesse Hager of Jonesboro, Holly Hager of Fayetteville, Matthew Moore of Walnut Ridge, Luke Smith and Isaac Smith of Fayetteville, and Robert M. Flippo Jr. of Bella Vista. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Central Methodist Church in Fayetteville, and Friday at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Walnut Ridge. Visitation will be 12:30-1:30 preceding the service in Walnut Ridge. Burial will be in Powhatan Cemetery. Arrangements are by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home of Fayetteville, with local arrangements by House-Gregg Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge.
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