Eva Irene Tunnell

March 12, 1936 - July 25, 2014

Eva I. Tunnell, age 78, formerly of Marion, IL passed away on Friday afternoon, at 3:50 p.m. (Eastern Time), July 25, 2014, at the home of her daughter, Wanda of Coldiron, KY in Harlan County. She was born in Kewanee, MO on Tuesday, March 12, 1936, the daughter of Albert and Iva Bell (Lanning) Harp. Eva was first united in marriage to Ed Lewis and to this union five children were born, Wanda, Gene, Jim, Alice and Betty. She later was united in marriage to Harvey Ray Tunnell, on May 2, 1975, in Aurora, IL and together they shared over thirty five years of marriage until his death on March 1, 2010. After their marriage and his retirement they moved to Marion, IL in 1978. For many years, Eva was a faithful member of Church of God in Herrin, IL. She loved caring for her family and home and she enjoyed reading her Bible, quilting and sewing in her earlier years. She is survived by her two daughters and two sons-in-law, Betty and Chris Buys of Dyersburg, TN and Wanda and Bill Collins of Harlan (Coldiron), KY; two sons and two daughters-in-law, Jim and Sue Lewis and Gene and Suzie Lewis all of Marion, IL; fifteen grandchildren, Shawn Stewart, Malissa Stewart, Tabatha Stewart, William O. Collins and his wife, Donna, Allan Lewis Jr., Tony Lewis and his wife, Melissa, Brandy Glodo and husband, Rodney, LeAnna Lewis, James Lewis Jr., Jennifer Klingel and her husband, Steve, Mark Lewis, Sarah Moore, Jesse Lopez, Shane Lopez and Matt Hannan, twenty-four great grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; sister, Daisy Lewis of Sikeston, MO; three brothers and two sisters-in-law Frank and Phyllis Harp of St. Louis, MO, Tom and Jo Ann Harp and Allen Harp all of Sikeston, MO, other extended family and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harvey Tunnell; daughter, Alice Marie Lewis; two granddaughters, Jane E. (Collins) Lewis and Virginia A. Collins; grandson, Aaron Lewis and sister, Anna Bell Kavy. Arrangements for Eva I. Tunnell were entrusted to the Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 N. Court Street, of Marion, IL. The time of visitation was from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29th, at the funeral home. The funeral service was at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at the Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home with Pastor Ken Tiffin presiding. Comments of memory were presented by Eva’s nephew, Nelson Lewis. The prelude and postlude musical selections were recorded piano selections. Special vocal musical selections presented during the service were “I Can Only Imagine”, “Daystar” and “Amazing Grace-My Chains Are Gone” all by Eva’s nephew, Nelson Lewis with recorded accompaniment. Interment followed next to her husband Harvey, in Rose Hill Cemetery of Marion, IL. Pallbearers were Mark Lewis, Shawn Stewart, William Collins, Aaron Collins, Tony Lewis and Al Lewis, Jr. After the committal service at the cemetery the family and friends went to Eva’s sons home, Jim Lewis for a meal and continued time of fellowship and support. For additional information, please call the funeral home at 618-993-2131.