Evelyn I. Zeiler was born July 13, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois. She passed peacefully in the early hours Saturday December 13, 2025, at the age of 91 years old. Evelyn is survived by her daughter Diana Dysart-Hoyt and Roger, grandson Daniel Dysart, who was her absolute joy, and Sarah, great-grandchildren Kendall Ruby, Zeiler Bradley, and Libby Rives Dysart. She loved her babies and they brought her so much delight and joy.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Earle Zeiler.
Evelyn lived her life with a strong commitment to community service and others. She and Earle were instrumental in starting the Osceola Community Betterment Association as well as the new Sac Osage Hospital and in later years very involved in the St Clair County Fire District. She had a long career caring for others through nursing.
Evelyn was raised in Sabetha, Kansas by her grandparents on a farm. She had a favorite pet pig Miranda. She graduated from Sabetha High School at the age of 16 then attended Bethany Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City, Kansas. She earned certification as a Nurse Anesthetist, and later attended Wichita State University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner, with further education in administration at Drury University in Springfield, MO.
Evelyn grew up in her faith and in adult years was a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church and Osceola Community Church. She loved her community and life on the bluff. She and Earle loved fishing on the river and especially time spent with Daniel teaching him about the Sac and Osage Rivers. She was the best fish cleaner and loved the surprise of a huge mess of fish in her refrigerator to process. She loved being outdoors, with her favorite days mowing and tending to her flowers. She kept that mower moving at full speed as she did her scooter around town in later years.
She had many pets throughout the years having taken in numerous stray dogs, cats, and the occasional porch raccoon. They all had special places in her heart.
Her joy was watching Daniel play sports through the years, she was his biggest fan.
Evelyn lived her life with a personality filled with spunk and loved her people fiercely.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the St. Clair County Food Bank, or the Helen Johnson Memorial Animal Shelter, in care of Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home: P.O. Box 384 Osceola, Missouri 64776.
1 Condolence for Zeiler, Evelyn I
Condolence(1)
Lila K Foster says
December 16, 2025 at 2:31 pmI became acquainted with Evelyn through my work at City Hall, and it didn’t take long to realize how much her humor and outlook mirrored my own. I always enjoyed taking a moment to visit with her and “shoot the breeze.” I had hoped she would get to enjoy the new sidewalk out to Dollar General, but God had other plans. Evelyn was a precious gift, and I will remember her fondly.