Evajo Sheehan

EvaJo Sheehan, a long-time resident of Collinsville, OK, died Monday the 13th of June, 2016, at the North Country Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation.

In the year EvaJo (nee Gilliland) Sheehan was born, 1927, Charles Lindbergh flew his monoplane, the Spirit of St. Louis, from New York to Paris, making it the first such Atlantic crossing.

Born in Collinsville, OK, just a block from where she lived most of her life, she attended Collinsville High School, graduating in 1944 as salutatorian of her class. She was active in basketball and softball throughout junior high and high school, and “lettered” in basketball all four years.

She met Kenneth R. Sheehan in Collinsville, and they married on the 22nd of July, 1945, at the Collinsville Community Church. EvaJo graduated from Draughon's Business College in Tulsa, OK, in 1945, and went to work as a bookkeeper at the National Bank of Tulsa until her first child was born (Kenneth M. Sheehan) in 1947, and after that returned to work until December 1949 when she left to have her other two sons (James S. Sheehan and Phillip R. Sheehan).

In 1956 she went back to work in the banking business at Farmers & Merchants Bank in Tulsa, OK, as a teller. She worked there until 1963 when she went to work at Collinsville High School as Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools for Collinsville, OK. She worked in that capacity until 1969 when she became Business Manager for Collinsville Public Schools.

While working full time and raising a family, she worked toward her Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Northeastern State University at Tahlequah, OK, and completed it in May of 1981.

In 1991 she retired as Business Manager for Collinsville Public Schools, but continued as Collinsville School District Treasurer until 2000.

She was also active in PEO, the General Federation of Women's Clubs, the Mohawk Women's Golf Association, the Community Church Choir, Bell Choir and Faith Circle. She was a member of Eastern Star for over 35 years.

In her spare time she loved reading, golfing, horse racing, bridge, genealogy, and spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by a brother, Bruce Gilliland of Kimball, NE, and her three sons, Mike Sheehan of Collinsville, Steve Sheehan of Issaquah, WA, and Phil Sheehan of Macon, GA, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., June 20, 2016 at the Collinsville Community Church with Rev. Dr. Thomas D. Schwartz officiating. Interment will follow at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Collinsville, Oklahoma. Services are under the direction of Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.