Alice Hippensteel Evans

Alice's life began on August 22, 1915 in Rock Falls, IL, the third daughter of Henry H. and Zola M. (Salter) Jordan. Her family moved to Dowagiac when she was three years old. Alice enjoyed an adventurous childhood, whether she was watching the bull across the road from her parents farm snort and paw the ground or she was sliding down the stairs on a mattress, she always knew how to make her own fun with her siblings. She was a 1934 graduate of Dowagiac Central High School. Alice was united in marriage to Gage Hippensteel in 1933 in South Bend and preceded her in death in 1977. She and Gage raised four boys while she helped work on the farm and waitressing at the old Wigwam Restaurant. After the Wigwam closed, Alice went to work at Cassco, and Essex Wire and finally worked as a bookkeeper for Dowagiac National Bank (Old Kent) for 23 years. She remarried to Ward Evans in 1984, a man she met through attending AARP meetings in Dowagiac and he preceded her in death in 1997. Alice and Ward spent some very good winters in Punta Gorda, FL and enjoyed their friends at Arcadia Village. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star #263 in Dowagiac, a member of First Christian Church and a volunteer at Lee Memorial Hospital. Her loving family includes her son Robert (Mary) Hippensteel of Buckner, MO, daughters in law Pat Hippensteel of Paso Robles, CA, and Billie Hippensteel of Paris, TX, 10 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren, a sister Willa Huffman of Dixon, IL and a brother Duane Jordan of Long Beach, CA. Alice passed away on January 8, 2011 at Riveridge Manor in Niles. She is also preceded in death by sons Roger Hippensteel, Rodney Hippensteel, Ray Hippensteel, and daughter in law Sharon Hippensteel, sisters Julia Culver and Martha Shank and brothers Dick and Clarence Jordan. Alice wrote in her memoirs that she was thankful to God for her loving family and her parting quote was “Hitch your wagon to a star and then get out and push!” Her family will gather with friends on Thursday from 11-1 p.m. at Yazel & Clark Chapel where her funeral will be held at 1 p.m. led by Pastor Jon Den Houter of the First Christian Church. She will be laid to rest in Mission Hills Cemetery, Niles. Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to First Christian Church. Please sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Alice at www.yazel-clark.com.