METROPOLIS, Ill — Evelyn Beneen (Burnham) Stewart, 91, passed away and went to be with her Lord at her daughter’s home in Perris, Calif., October 16, 2012.

Funeral services will be held at noon Thursday, October 25th, 2012 at Aikins-Farmer Funeral Home with the Rev. David Wright officiating. Burial will follow at the Boaz Anderson Cemetery in Karnak, Ill.

Evelyn was born in Massac County to Virgie and Ben Burnham. She had six sisters and two brothers. Evelyn was a member of Joppa Baptist Church and later moved to Metropolis where she joined membership to Lighthouse Assembly of God Church. She was the oldest of nine children. They are Mrs. Thelma McNichols, Kenneth Burnham and wife Delores, Gerald Burnham and wife Sue, Lena Henderson and husband Roy, Averil Croft, Ellen Croft and husband Lindolph, Vera Burnham and Arvella Andrews.

She married Harry Stewart on March 10, 1936. To this union was born five children, Joan, Donald Raymond, Robert David, Sandra Sue, and Brenda Kay.

Evelyn is survived by three daughters Joan Dry and husband Bill, Sandra McLaughlin, and Brenda Kirckpatrick and husband Carroll (Pat); four sisters; two brothers; 13 grandchildren; 51 great and great-great-grandchildren; two sister in-laws that she loved dearly, Mrs. Irene Sommer and Mrs. Mary Hempler; and a host of other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Stewart; two sons, Robert David Stewart and Donald Stewart; her parents, Virgie and Ben Burnham, two sisters, Averil Croft and Arvella Andrews; and a son in-law, Neil McLaughlin.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour Thursday, October 25th at Aikins-Farmer Funeral Home in Metropolis.