Evea J. Bainum, age 92, of Bonnerdale, Ark., died Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 at her home, Rocky Pines Farm, surrounded by family.
Evea was born on Feb. 16, 1924 in El Dorado, Ark.,s in an oil field. She is the daughter of Albert and Florence Ewing and sister of the late Veda Nooner.
Evea graduated from Washington Missionary College in Tacoma Park, Maryland. It was there that she met Irvin C. Bainum at a drugstore, and on Dec. 31, 1947, they married.
They had two sons: Dr. Timothy Ewing Bainum, born on Sept. 4, 1948, and Dr. Mark E. “Duke” Bainum, born on July 21, 1952.
Evea and Irvin moved their family to Ocean City, Maryland, in 1953 to build and run their first motel. Over the next five decades, they were influential in the development of Ocean City. Evea worked in the hotel business until her retirement and sale of her last hotel, Quality Inn Beachfront, in 2007.
It was then that Evea returned full-time to her beloved hometown of Bonnerdale, Ark., and became an active member of the Bonnerdale Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was also involved in the family business of Diamond Bank.
Evea leaves behind a legacy. She is survived by her son, Dr. Timothy E. Bainum and his wife, Donna Bainum; her five grandchildren, Timothy A. Bainum, Stefanie Bainum, Daisy Bainum, Z Bainum and Kona Bainum; her brother-in-law, Dennis Nooner; and two nephews, Denny Nooner and Darrell Nooner.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Florence Ewing; her husband, Irvin C. Bainum; her son, Dr. Mark E. “Duke” Bainum; and her sister, Veda Nooner.
Visitation was Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, 6-8 p.m. at Davis-Smith Funeral Home of Glenwood.
Funeral services were at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016 in the Bonnerdale Seventh-day Adventist Church with Pastor Brandon Westgate officiating.
Interment followed in the Bonnerdale Seventh-day Adventist Cemetery under the direction of the Davis-Smith Funeral Home of Glenwood.
Pallbearers were Denny Nooner, Tab Bainum, Tom Jones, John Peckham, Ric Huff and Darrell Nooner.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Bonnerdale Volunteer Fire Department at P.O. Box 9, Bonnerdale, AR 71933.
Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.
