Violet Irene Overslaw

Memorial services for Violet Irene Overslaw, will be held Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 3:00 PM at the Jefferson Academy Seventh Day Adventist Church under the direction of Haggard Funeral Home, with Pastor John Taylor and Elder Benny Jenkins officiating.

Violet was born in Lyons, New York, on April 16, 1931, to Lloyd Francis Everhart and Marion VanMarter Everhart. She passed away on August 6, 2024, at home in Jefferson, Texas, surrounded by her loving family. 

After graduating from Marion High School in 1948, Vie went to work at the Commercial Building in Newark where she met the love of her life, Elmer Overslaw.  Vie and Elmer married in 1949 at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Newark, New York.  They made their home in Fairville, NY, and then Marion, NY, where they raised their five children.  Upon retirement from Genessee Hospital in Rochester, NY, she and Elmer made their new home in Jefferson, Texas. 

She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great great-grandmother.  She loved children, not just her own, but her nieces, nephews, foster children, and many other children she taught at Sabbath School, and in her volunteer position at Cypress Bend Elementary.  She was the happiest when her home was filled with her family and friends, or when she was doing something for someone in need.  She was a master at board games and cards.  She was still putting the whooping on us right up to just a few weeks ago.  She had beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, fruit trees, rhubarb, berry patches, lilac trees, and peony bushes. She ensured her children had a daily task list to work on in those gardens to ensure they did not sit idle. She loved everything out doors; walking down the lane to the meadows to pick fruit, walking in the woods where she would point out interesting shapes of trees, picking wild onions, and getting excited when she found mushrooms and Jonny in the pulpit flowers.  She loved all animals, but horses were her favorite.  She found solace in taking Bill or Blackie, her favorite horses, for a ride, but she also found it fun to race her horse against anyone else’s.  Her laughter and beautiful smile will forever be embedded in our memory and hearts.

She was a member of the East Palmyra, New York Seventh Day Adventist church and then later a member of the Jefferson Adventist Academy church, where she served in many roles, including sabbath school leader, deaconess, treasurer’s assistant, M.V. leader, children story coordinator, community center volunteer, and colporteur.   

She is survived by her children Deborah Withey, Rebeckah(Terry) Feist, Steven(Dana) Overslaw, and Brenda (Eddie) Hellie, and daughter-in-law Tara Overslaw. Grandchildren, Patricia(Bob) Eddinger, Dr. Paul Withey, Christopher Overslaw, Anthony Feist, Melissa(Chad) Barksdale, Joshua Hellie, Travis (Maggie) Hellie, Haley Dungey, Sophie Dungey, 14 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister, Alma Schanz, her sister-in-law Margaret Overslaw Williams, and numerous nieces and nephews she loved dearly.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Elmer Overslaw, son, Richard Overslaw, grandson, Jesse Hellie; sisters, Helena Geisy, Jean Beman, brothers, Calvin Everhart, and Harold Everhart. 

The family would like to give special thanks to Maggie Hellie and Charlie Knott for giving the loving care that Mom so deserved.  We would also like to thank Jennifer and the team at Elara Caring, Lauren Jones, and Chaplain Lawrence Thompson of Heart to Heart Hospice for their dedication and genuine caring attention to Mom during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cypress Bend Elementary School 2997 FM 728 Jefferson, TX 75657 https://www.cbaes.org/pay_tuition or Jefferson Adventist Academy, 3060 FM 728 Jefferson, TX 75657 https://www.jca-tx.org/give.

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