WICHITA - Marie Evelyn Crouse, age 87 passed away on May 31, 2009, at Deseret Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center of Wichita, Kansas. She was born on March 25th , 1922 at Cyril, Oklahoma, to Arthur & Maude Funnell.

Evelyn's mother dies after giving Birth to Evelyn. She was adopted at age 5 to Melville and Bea Bennett of Ottawa, Kansas, who was her aunt and uncle.

She married Murl D. Kortz of Ingalls on June 20, 1943, they had 2 children Judith Ann and William "Bill" Melvin. Evelyn Taught school in Ingalls for a number of years and also worked at the Ingalls Post Office. Later on she worked at the Cimarron Insurance Company. Then moved to Dodge City, Kansas and worked for Lauren Jones Insurance Company. She married Ira Crouse on Oct. 22, 1976 in Raton, New Mexico. At that time she Adopted Christine Steiben daughter of Ira. Evelyn moved to Garden City, then to Lincoln, Nebraska, then to Wichita, Kansas with her daughter Judith Ann and her husband.

She is survived by Judith Ann Brown and son-in-law Randall Brown of Wichita, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Sherry Janda of Hutchinson, Larry Cook of Ellinwood, Charlotte Cullina of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mike Kortz of Dodge City, Lisa Walker of Sharon Springs, Scott Kortz of Wichita, Geri Ridgeway of Ozawkie, and Renee Kortz of Garden City; 19 great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by son William Melvin "Bill" Kortz.

Graveside service will be held at Maple Grove Cemetery on June 2, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. There will be no public visitation as cremation has taken place. Please make memorials to Hospice Care of Kansas, 808 South Hillside, Wichita, Kansas 67211. Personal condolences may be left at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.