Lillie Evelyn Johns Larsen, who resided in Paris, Arkansas, passed away Friday, April 7, 2017, at her home. She was born November 5, 1926, in Paris, Arkansas to the late Arch C. Johns and Lillie Wallace Reed Johns. She was 90 years old. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, William Howard Larsen, Sr.; her sisters, Data Buzbee, Violet Vincent, Mary Richey, and Kate Kolsem; and two brothers, Arthur Coy "Rusty" Johns and Tom Buck Johns.

Evelyn attended Arkansas State Teachers' College. She married Bill on February 14, 1946 at Barron Air Field in Foley, Alabama, where Bill was stationed. Evelyn was a homemaker and she taught school. Along with her husband Bill, they became very involved in raising purebred Egyptian Arabian Horses from 1968 until 1995 on their farm Eldorado Arabians in Fort Smith. They were both very active members of the National Association of Breeders and Arabian Horse Enthusiasts interested in perpetuating the Egyptian Arabian horse. She was a member of the Arkansas Arabian Horse Club. Evelyn was among the founders of Central Christian Church in Fort Smith and in 2008, she became a member of First Christian Church in Paris.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, April 13th, at Brotherton Funeral Home Chapel in Paris, with the Rev. H.C. Varnadore officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Paris, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home in Paris.

She is survived by a daughter, Kaia Larsen of Fort Smith; a son, Bill Larsen and wife Margie of Castle Rock, Colorado; one brother, Harvey Lee Johns of Paris; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Tom Lipe Johns, Tom Reed Johns, John Henry Kolsem, Alan Lane, Tom Patterson, and Jim Russell.

Family will visit with friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Wednesday night at the funeral home.

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