Dodge City - Viola E. "Evelyn" Preston, died August 2, 2011 at Western Plains Medical Complex in Dodge City, Kansas. She was born on August 17, 1928 at Pleasant Valley,Kansas, the daughter of Hiram H. and Viola (Hensley) Brown.

Evelyn graduated from Dodge City High School. She worked as a LPN for a short time and was a homemaker. Evelyn was a recent resident of Trinity Manor of Dodge City, Kansas. On September 10, 1946, she married Claude Preston in Norwich, Kansas. He preceded her in death on October 29, 2001. She was an avid reader but the most important things in her life were her strong Christian faith and spending time with her family.

She was a member of the First Christian Church of Dodge City and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Evelyn is survived by three children, Sheryl "Sherry" Wheeler and husband Wes of Manhattan, Kansas, Steven Preston and wife Pamela of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Cliff Preston and wife Sharon of Dodge City, Kansas; two brothers, Eugene Brown of Dodge City, Kansas and George Brown and wife LaDonna of Jetmore, Kansas; four sisters, Eleanor Hawes of Ford, Kansas, Joyce Nantz and husband Jim of Vero Beach, Florida, Coral Schmidt of Ontario Oregon, and Marion Hinck of Hutchinson, Kansas; four grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. In addition to her husband Claude, she was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings.

Funeral service will be held at First Christian Church in Dodge City, Kansas on Friday, August 5, 2011 at 10:00 AM with Mr. Phil Scott presiding. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home on Thursday, August 4, 2011 from noon to 8:00 PM with the family recieving friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church or to Trinity Manor in care of the funeral home.