Evelyn Ewing Gillis, 91 of Columbus, MS passed away Thursday, March 20, 2014 at North Mississippi Medical Center, Tupelo, MS. Visitation was Saturday, March 22, 2014 from 1 - 2 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS. Funeral services followed with Rev. Tony Proctor officiating. Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Steens, MS with Lowndes Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Gillis was born August 26, 1922 in Steens, MS to the late J. Rigg and Chebie Harris Vaughn. She received a BS degree at MSCW in 1943 and Masters in Education from MSU. She taught at Mississippi University for Women for 22 years. Mrs. Gillis was a descendant of the pioneer families of Lowndes County, Swanzy, Harris, Shaeffer and Vaughn. In the earlier years she was active in several organizations including the Galaxy Garden Club, Daughters of American Revolution, Les Amies Study Club and the Columbus/Lowndes Pioneer Society. Mrs. Gillis was an avid reader, loved traveling and enjoyed playing duplicate bridge. She was a member of First United Methodist Church since 1946 and was involved in many areas having been a circle leader and played the piano for Stuckenschneider Class for many years. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband-Lt. Col. Murdock Glenn Gillis and a sister-Clara Crocker. Mrs. Gillis is survived by a daughter-Ann (Harold) Burkart, Columbus, MS; grandchildren-Perry (Marie) Burkart, Water Valley, MS and Glenn Burkart, Alexandria, VA; great grandchild-Annabel Burkart; sisters-Annie Ferguson, Columbus, MS and Martha Jordan, Greenwood, MS; a host of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Tommy Marlowe, Tommy Vaughn, Jim Vaughn, Walter Jordan III, Rigg Ferguson and Henry Vaughn. Memorials may be made to Woodlawn Cemetery, c/o Jim Vaughn, 7712 Hwy. 12 E, Steens, MS 39766, First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 32, Columbus, MS 39703 or Vaughn Cemetery, c/o Martha Mims, 3011 Wolfe Rd., Columbus, MS 39705.