Evelyn Ryan Lewis Stafford

Our Mother's love was the one constant, the one absolute, the one rock upon which we could all stand and the safety net that protected us from ever totally falling or failing. She faced all challenges that life had for her. Love is what our mother did. Our mother is gone from us and for the first time in our lives we are left to lookout for ourselves, but we are really never alone, through her love for us and our love her her. She is waiting for us, looking over us, worrying. She is waiting for her children to return to her.

Evelyn Ryan Lewis Stafford  passed away on Sunday, September 9, 2018, in Maurepas, LA, at the age of 90.  She was born on July 21, 1928 in Clio, Louisiana to the late Mary Henery Ryan and the late John Ryan. She was a resident of Ponchatoula, Louisiana. She worked in supervision at Hammond State School and retired after 25 years of service. She was a member of Huff Chapel Methodist Church in Clio, LA.

Evelyn is survived by her daughters, Jackie Lewis Patterson and husband Jerry, Jessie Mae Lewis Newman, and Carla Stafford Bourgeois and husband Hanson; eight grandchildren, Jerry Patterson Jr., Angela Rodriguez, Janelle Bourgeois, Jessica Music, Trey Bourgeois, Melody Stieb, Michelle Tureau, and Carlton Downey; sister, Bernadette Meadows and husband Joe; 12 great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; special sister in law, Irene Ryan; brother in law, Laney Kuhn; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Henery Ryan; father, John Ryan; husbands, Jesse Lee Lewis and Carlton Stafford; sisters, Hazel Wilde Lavigne, Lucille Berthalot Anderson, and Emogene Kuhn; brothers, Virgil Ryan, Stanley Ryan, and Edward Ryan; son, Michael Downey; grandson, Ralph Newman, Jr.; and son in law, Ralph Newman.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at Harry McKneely and Son Funeral Home 100 W Magnolia St. Ponchatoula, LA, on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 11:00 am conducted by Milton Bourque. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 13, 2018 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am.

Interment will follow in Sand Hill Cemetery in Ponchatoula, LA

To view and sign the family guest book, please visit www.harrymckneely.com.

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