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Amarillo woman earns GED at age 97

Thursday, November 15, 2007

(11/15/07 - AMARILLO, TX) -- Evie Eaves is the living embodiment of the old saw, "You're never too old to learn."

Eaves, 97, recently earned her General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma. Her accomplishment was honored by about 50 well-wishers at Craig Methodist Retirement Community, where she's been a resident for a few years.

Born in Oklahoma in 1910, Evie went to school up through the eighth grade in rural Stevens County but would have had to travel seven miles to the nearest high school.

"It was a little too far to walk," she said.

Her parents didn't encourage formal education over working on the farm, so when her older brothers left the family spread to start their own lives, Evie had to work.

"My father had one arm and didn't have any boys to help work the farm," said Evie, the sixth child of James and Mary Ellen Stults' nine. "So I worked."

Evie married at 17 and worked in cafes, 5-and-dime stores and Levine's in Pampa while her husband was a pumper in the oil fields. She gave birth to her only child when she was 20 years old and was married for 62 years, when her husband died in 1989.

"I stayed at home with the dog and taught Sunday school in Pampa," Evie said.

Relatives brought her to live at The Canyons Retirement Community around 2000 because they didn't think she could live alone anymore. Evie then moved to Craig Methodist about three years ago.

During a conversation with great-granddaughter Colleen Reynolds, Evie said she was urged to study for and take the test to receive her GED.

"She talked me into it," Evie said. "I had no self-confidence but she kept saying, 'you can do it, you can do it.' "

Evie took a big step earlier this year when she decided that, yes, she probably could do it.

"(But ) when I got discouraged, (Reynolds) would say, 'you can pass it.' "

By studying on her own, with help from relatives, friends and Craig Methodist staff -- including Director of Social Services Mindy Cagle -- Evie took the next step and scheduled to take the five parts of the GED exam at Amarillo College's Testing Center.

"I enjoyed the math the most," she said. "And for me, the hardest was general science."

Evie, who lives with macular degeneration, had to have some accommodations to be able to take the five tests that make up the GED, said Paula Sosebee of Amarillo College.

"She got extra time (to take the test) and I administered the test orally," Sosebee said.

Carol Hormanksi came from Pampa each day to drive Evie to AC for the tests.

Evie and Sosebee were together for two hours one day for two tests and four hours another day to finish up the other three parts. Evie was tested on writing, reading, math, social studies and science. She had to score a minimum of 410 to pass each test but had to have a 450 average to attain her GED. Evie's lowest score on any of the tests was 450, Sosebee said.

"I was the one blessed," Sosebee said. "No matter how long I'll live I'll never forget this. She was prepared."

Evie was surprised to learn that her highest grade, 510, came in her hardest subject -- science.

"Now I can do anything," she said.

She may have a lot of time to figure out what she wants to do next because longevity is in her genes -- her oldest sister is 103.

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