Eva Lou Connel was born on June 7, 1927 at home on the family farm east of Argonia, Kansas to William Harrison Pearce and Opal Maude (Haskell) Pearce.  Eva Lou went to a country school near her home her first year.  She then went to school at Argonia Grade School and Argonia High School, graduating with the class of 1945.

In 1942, her freshman year of high school, Eva Lou went with her mother and sister, Olis to visit her brother, Erwin in California.  This is where she met Erwin's friend, William Garth Connel.  The War had started the year before.  Garth went into the Navy shortly after meeting Eva Lou, and the two kept in touch through letters until 1944.

Eva Lou and Garth were united in marriage on August 21, 1944 in Yakima, Washington.  Garth was discharged from the Navy a year later and the couple moved back to the Argonia area, making their home 3 miles north of her parent's farm.  The family grew as they were blessed with four children; Saundra, Pam, Mike, and Roxann.

Finally getting electricity in 1950, Eva Lou was happy to finally have a refrigerator, meaning no more Ice Man!  The next year they installed running water.  Shortly following was a bathroom and then an automatic clothes washer.  In 1953 they bought their first car, since they only had a pickup, already having two kids and a third was on the way.  The home was finally complete with a television in 1956 and through the years they built on, adding two bedrooms, utility, and another bathroom.  Garth passed away on January 30, 1996 and Eva Lou still lived at this home until her passing.

Working outside the home for a very short time, Eva Lou became a homemaker.  But being a farmer's wife meant she was really a farmer too.  She ran the farm until her passing on January 6, 2021 at the age of 93.

Preceding Eva Lou in death are her parents, William and Opal Pearce; husband, Garth; her brothers, Erwin and Harley Pearce; Erwin's wife, Joann; son-in-law, Rick Nafziger; and Brad Stocking, whom she considered a son.  She is survived by her children: Saundra Drouhard and her husband, Dean of Argonia, Pam Nafziger of Argonia, Mike Connel of Argonia, and Roxann McLain and her husband, Brad of Wellington, Kansas; grandchildren: Bryan Tracy, Kelli McVay, Kim Quinn, Ashlea Shogren, Kristin Harter, Jamie Glaser, Audra Solito, and Mark Zeigler; many great-grandchildren; sister, Olis Seaton; sister-in-law, Carol Pearce; other relatives and friends.

Visitation is 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Funeral Service is 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 11, 2021 at Prairie Rose Funeral Home, Harper with Pastor Eric Linville officiating.  Interment follows at the Argonia Cemetery.  Please wear protective face covering if able to do so and practice social distancing. Service will be recorded and available for viewing on this page after the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital and can be sent in care of the funeral home.  Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 613 W 14th St ~ Harper, Kansas  67058.