Evelyn Corbell

Evelyn Corbell departed our world to be with her Lord and Savior, on April 10 ^th , 2021. She passed away at her home in Levelland, Texas while surrounded by her family.  She was 93 years of age.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 17, 2021, in the Krestridge Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will follow in the Ralls Cemetery.

She was born as Evelyn Schluter on July 15, 1927, in Crosby County, Texas.  Her parents, Walter and Selma Schluter, were two of the early settlers to the region.  They farmed near Canyon Valley and Lorenzo, TX, but later established their home in Ralls, TX.  Evelyn attended primary school in Canyon Valley, but later attended High School in Ralls, TX where she graduated.  While a young girl living in Canyon Valley and in Ralls, Evelyn loved horseback riding, was a good hand driving a tractor, and had a passion for playing basketball.

One day in 1950, Evelyn was invited by a friend to attend a picnic in Silver Falls, Texas that was sponsored by the General Telephone Company.  While there, she met one of the phone company employees, Kenneth Corbell.  This chance encounter turned into something much more.  Later that same year, she and Kenneth were married in Clovis, NM.  Evelyn often spoke about how Kenneth was the love of her life. They remained married for over 67 years until Kenneth’s passing in March of 2018.

During Kenneth’s telephone company career, he and Evelyn moved several times, living for a time in Oklahoma and later on the Texas gulf coast.  Soon however, they made a decision to put down roots, purchased a farm and start a family. Initially, they purchased a farm in Shallowater, TX.  However, an opportunity became available for Kenneth and Evelyn to purchase the farm in Maple, Texas where Kenneth was reared.  They grabbed hold of this opportunity and soon found themselves living in Maple.  While in Maple, they had their first child, Trena, and soon thereafter Celia was born.  In 1964 they moved to Levelland where the girls entered school and they continued farming in Maple and also in Levelland.

Although she never had a formal lesson in art, Evelyn was quite naturally talented.  She found a passion in stained glass and soon had a small custom made stained glass business up and running. No doubt Evelyn could have made that business into a tremendous success, but any personal ambition was overridden by the compassion and caring love she had for her family.  Evelyn lived by Christian principles of what a wife and mother should be, always placing the needs of her family first and foremost, well ahead of any personal ambitions or goals.  She was a devoted wife, a terrific mother and grandmother, a confidant, and a sage advisor.  She took God’s word to heart and her advice was always based on Christian principle.  After Evelyn’s passing, her only grandson made a comment saying, “Grandmama was pure.”  That one word, pure, truly sums up how Evelyn lived her life and how those who knew her well were affected by her presence.  2 Timothy 4:7 states, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  That was Evelyn.

Evelyn leaves behind her eldest daughter Trena Rutter (married to Chris Rutter) of Brownwood, TX, her youngest daughter Celia Smith (married to Jay Smith) of Ruidoso, NM, and grandson Patrick Smith of Ruidoso, NM.  Preceding Evelyn in death is her late husband Kenneth Corbell and her parents Walter and Selma Schluter, formerly of Ralls, TX.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Krestridge Funeral Home.  (806) 897-1111