Evelyn "Evie" E Caldwell

Evelyn “Evie” E. Caldwell, age 78, of McCook, NE passed away Thursday, February 24, 2022 at Community Hospital in McCook.

Evie was born on July 13, 1943 in Pawnee City, NE the only child of Walter Edward and Abby Adeline (Hunley) Luedeke.

Evie grew up and attended school in Pawnee City, graduating from Pawnee City High School.  She then attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln receiving her master’s degree in Music Education and Pipe Organ. She was an educator at multiple public schools and colleges throughout her life, including Pleasanton, Arthur, Indianola, Bartley, and McCook.  She inspired many lives throughout her career teaching instrumental and vocal music, as well as mentoring several accomplished musicians early in their successful careers.

Evie was a member of the Memorial United Methodist Church. She was the church organist for over 30 years, Director of the Bell Choir, member of several of the church committees, and volunteered for multiple outreach programs within the church.  She especially loved baking pies for the County Fair youth group food booth and working in the kitchen for Feed the Flock.

She was involved with many organizations in the SW Nebraska area including Southwest Nebraska Community Theater Association, Meals on Wheels, Community Choir, United Methodist Thrift Shop (Jumble Shop), and several other philanthropic endeavors throughout the community.  One of her favorite organizations was as the co-director of the Nebraska Pride Sweet Adeline chorus.  This group has performed barbershop harmony at many events throughout the state as well as a few special performances at venues elsewhere in the United States.  She was also a longtime member of several barbershop quartets across her lifetime.  Her passion was obviously music, but she also enjoyed cooking and baking, acting, gardening, and was a voracious reader of all kinds of books.  She was a very loving person who had many children that adopted her as their local “grandma”. She enjoyed attending the theatre in Denver and Omaha with her family, as well as watching as many events her grandsons were a part of as she was able.  She was also a lover of baseball and enjoyed going to games at Coors Field as well as the College World Series in Omaha. Evie was recognized as an inspirational educator, and two of her most prized awards reflecting that were as the 2000 10/11 Golden Apple Award winner from KOLN/KGIN TV and the 2007 McCook Rotary Club Teacher of the Year.

Evie was preceded in death by her parents.

Evie is survived by her children Chad and wife Stormie Caldwell of Willis, TX; and Carrie and husband Ron Lyon of Omaha, NE.  Also surviving are six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.