January 13, 1925 –  February 24, 2011  Evelyn Clayton Speake, 86, a retired teacher, passed away Thursday, February 24 at a local care facility. For several years she suffered from Alzheimerâ??s disease. Funeral services will be Saturday, February 26 at Clement-Keel Funeral Home, Gainesville, TX. Visitation is at 1:00 pm and funeral services at 2:00 pm. Burial will be in Cooke County at the Spring Creek Cemetery.
Evelyn was born January 13, 1925 in Pontotoc County, OK to Walter and Ethel (Caton) Clayton. Her father was a veteran of WWI and later served as the postmaster at Byng, Pontotoc County. Evelyn was educated in the rural schools in the area and graduated at the head of her class from Hickory High School. She attended East Central Oklahoma College, receiving a BA degree. Her major was music.

After college she taught music in the Pampa, TX ISD and directed the choir at First Presbyterian Church in Pampa.

The family moved to Tarrant County in 1956 where her husband was a teacher and school principal in the Birdville ISD.

Evelyn joined him as an aide in the special education department for another 10 years in education. She sang in the choir of St. Philipâ??s Presbyterian Church and directed the choir when the directorâ??s position was vacant.

Evelynâ??s passion was music and education. She participated in both as long as she could.

Family: husband, Claude Speake of Richland Hills, daughter, Claudia and husband, Richard Dickson of Haltom City. Son, Paul and his wife, Elisabeth of Wister, OK. Five grandchildren: Amanda and Rebecca Dickson, Philip and Lydia Speake, Dr. Joseph and his wife, Dr. Cheryl Speake.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents and sister, June Crumb of Allen, OK and brother, John Clayton of Potomac, MD.