Smyrna resident (long-time Van Buren County resident) and Bledsoe County native Evelyn Simmons Shockley, age 95, was born Sept. 21, 1915 and died July 28 at Alive Hospice in Nashville following an extended illness.
 A retired teacher with Van Buren County School System and member of First Baptist Church in LaVergne, she was the daughter of the late Fred Milton and Ida Jane Swallows Simmons. Mrs. Shockley was a charter member of Mt. Elim Baptist Church in Van Buren County. 
She was married Aug. 22, 1936 to Lewis Edwin Shockley who preceded her in death Nov. 21, 1997. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, L.J. Simmons and sister, Blanche Simmons Hopkins. 
She is survived by one son, Louis Milton Shockley of Rock Island; daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Frank Leebern of Smyrna; granddaughter, Tanya Bess and husband Randy of McMinnville; great-granddaughter, Jordan Bess of McMinnville and step-great-grandson, Ryan Bess of McMinnville.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in High's Chapel with Bill Thompson, Willard Ralph, Jr. and Nathan Hale officiating. Burial will follow in the Long Cemetery in Van Buren County. Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. until time of service Monday at High's. Memorial contributions may be made to the Curtis Family/Pizza Hut Relay For Life Team or Gideons International both c/o High's.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) July 31, 2011