GREENWOOD
Pearl “Evelyn” (McGaughey) Gross, 98, of Greenwood Village South Retirement Community in Greenwood, IN was called home to her savior Jesus Christ on July 19, 2020. Evelyn was born in Russellville, IN to Rafe and Waunetta (Ratcliff) McGaughey on March 8, 1922 as the third of their five children.
Evelyn graduated from Russellville High School, where she was a member of the basketball team. She went on to study nursing at Union Hospital School of Nursing in Terre Haute, IN. After graduation, she worked in the obstetrics department of a hospital in Crawfordsville, IN before enlisting in the United States Army. She served in the 248th General Hospital in the Philippines, caring for the men rescued from the Bataan Death March. She was discharged as a First Lieutenant from the Army in 1946, after contracting malaria while in the Philippines.
On April 20,1947 Evelyn married her one true love, Francis E. Gross. After World War II, Evelyn was a private duty nurse until her daughter, Pat, was born. Evelyn and her husband lived in Terre Haute, before moving to central Indiana and settling in Whiteland to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren.
The Grosses enjoyed traveling, seeing all 50 states, much of it by rail. Evelyn was involved in many community groups including the Red Hat Society. She was also an active member of the Greenwood Christian Church. Evelyn and Francis were happily married for 67 years until his death in 2014.
Evelyn was a loving mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed by her family: daughter, Pat (Rex) Foster; grandsons, Michael “Trent” (Jennifer Phillips) Foster, and Travis (Sara) Foster; great grandsons, Hunter Petro, and Jackson Foster, as well as many nephews and nieces.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her siblings: Lois (Robert) Riggs, Lil (John) Grimes, Edgar (Martha Jo) McGaughey, and John Frank McGaughey.
Her family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Greenwood Village South for taking care of Evelyn for the last 17 years, especially during the pandemic when her family was unable to be at her side.
A private family service will be held Saturday, July 25 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 1977 S. State Road 135, Greenwood, Indiana 46143 with service to follow at 1:00 p.m., officiated by Pastor Shan Rutherford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Evelyn’s name may be made to: Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County, P.O. Box 147, Whiteland, IN 46184; www.ifpjc.org. To leave memories and condolences, please visit www.forestlawncemetery-fh.com.
In accordance with Governor Holcomb’s mandate, masks will be requested by all visitors to the funeral home.
