Irene Evans Serfass' Obituary
As the RN at Walker Hospice adjusted Irene’s pillow, she suddenly blurted out, “My ass is burning!” It was loud and clear and very Irene. The RN giggled and said that she sounded just like an RN. And indeed, that’s exactly what Irene was. At the time, I did not know that those words would be the last that I would ever hear from her lips, but I am so grateful I got to hear that less than subtle kind of utterance from her. Classic Irene.
Irene Evans graduated from Fayetteville, AR High School in 1950. After high school, she graduated from St. Edwards School of Nursing in Ft. Smith, AR. It was there that she met a younger serviceman stationed at Ft. Chaffee. Kenneth Wayne Serfass swept her off her feet and they were married in short order.
The new couple soon moved to northern Missouri where Kenneth began attending college at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. Over the next decade, Irene continued her work as an RN helping to support Kenneth through his bachelor’s, master’s degrees and lastly a Doctorate from the University of Missouri (Mizzou)…Oh yea, while raising a couple of boys. One son was well-behaved and the other, (me) was an absolute terror.
Soon after Kenneth’s career began to take off as a Dean at Southern Illinois University, he was tragically killed in an automobile accident while driving to work in September of 1975. Irene moved back home to Fayetteville and remained a widow for the next 48 years until her death on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the age of 90. She is now back with the love of her life, forever.
Irene is preceded in death by her parents; Lester and Eithel Shackleford Evans of Fayetteville, AR. Three siblings; Mamie Osborne, Jean Wilkinson and Everett Evans.
She is survived by her two sons; Kenneth Wayne Serfass Jr. with his wife Samantha of Dallas, TX and Scott Serfass of Fayetteville, AR. Two siblings; Hoover Evans of Houston, TX and Herman Evans of Cave Springs, AR. Plus numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Mom, you will be sorely missed. Take your place among the heavenly stars and save us a seat beside you. We look forward to hearing your unfiltered musings again.
Visitation begins Thursday, March 30, at 1:00 p.m. at Nelson Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Graveside service will be 3:00 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at Fairview Memorial Gardens.
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