Geneva Evelyn Shepard Gaither

Geneva Evelyn Shepard Gaither, age 96, of Grants Pass passed away peacefully at her home on May 21, 2024.

Geneva was born on March 25, 1928, in Mount Ida, Arkansas, to Willie and Bessie. She spent her early years in Oklahoma, where she attended school and experienced life on a farm with fresh produce. In 1949, she married Bennie Cecil Shepard, and the couple lived in California and Washington. Eventually, in 1962, they settled in Grants Pass where they made their cherished home. After Bennie’s passing in 1977, Geneva found love again and married Lloyd Gaither in 1985; he passed away in 2009.

Throughout her working years, Geneva was a waitress at the Rogue Food Shop from 1962 to 1970 and the Kopper Kitchen from 1970 to 1989. Later on, she dedicated her time as a clerk at the Salvation Army Second-Hand Store until her well-deserved retirement.

Geneva had a passion for tending to her flower and vegetable gardens and shared joyful moments with her daughter at yard sales—they both relished the activity known as “pinch and feel” along with church rummage sales. Actively involved in the Allen Creek Free Methodist Church, Geneva wholeheartedly contributed her time to various needs within the community, particularly serving on the prayer committee. Her love extended to all animals, but especially to her cherished cats. Geneva also had a special talent for sewing, including making Lisa’s dresses for formal events while in high school. Lisa was proud of how beautiful the dresses were and received many compliments as she wore them.

Geneva is survived by her loving daughter Lisa Webster and son-in-law Tom; grandson Chris Anderton; and two great-grandsons Lyric Anderton and Landon Allison—all residing in Grants Pass; step-son George Gaither of Shady cove, Oregon; nieces Rosalee Morris of Oklahoma City, and Della Pickens and her husband Kevin of Moore, Oklahoma and their two sons Blake and Brian Pickens of Brentwood, California; and nephew Dewey Morris Jr. Geneva loved keeping in touch and visiting often with her entire family.

She is preceded in death by her son Ben Shepard in 1995, parents, brothers Junior Morris and Dewey Morris, and nephew Johnny Morris.

The funeral service will begin at 11:30 a.m., on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Grants Pass, Oregon.

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