Gwen Evans

Edwina Louise Evans (Lloyd), formerly Gwen Hopkins-Bates, of Springfield, Missouri, peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 27, 2026. In her sleep as she wished, in her home with her loved ones, and cats by her side.

Edwina lived many lives in one lifetime. She and her husband, Jim, raised their two sons, Stephen and Jimmy, and she loved being their mother above all else. That love only grew as her family expanded, becoming the foundation of everything she did.

She went on to serve as a hospice bereavement counselor, walking alongside countless grieving families during some of the darkest moments of their lives. Her spirit brought comfort to so many. She had a way of explaining death, what comes after, and how beautiful it is to grieve. That we grieve because we loved so deeply, and that love doesn’t leave us. She brought warmth, not in her words alone but in her heart for others, leaving a lasting impact on the families she served and the colleagues who had the privilege of working beside her.

Her heart for others extended far beyond her career. As a dedicated board member of the Humane Society, Edwina became known for doing whatever, and I mean whatever, it took to save any animal fortunate enough to cross her path. She often shared the story of the starfish, reminding others that while you may not be able to save them all, to the one you do save, it means everything.

Her service and long list of accomplishments didn’t stop there. She went on to write and publish her book, “Hope Star,” a work she was very proud of. Throughout her life, she also quietly and faithfully cared for those who were often overlooked. She devoted herself to helping unhoused individuals, neighbors in need, and anyone who found themselves struggling. If someone needed a place to stay, a listening ear, or simply to know they mattered, Edwina was there. There were times she herself struggled, and she gave her last dime to save a suffering animal or help a friend in need. Her heart was truly made of gold.

Yet of all the titles she held, her favorite was “Mimi.” She made every moment, every small mundane thing, and every visit magical. She always joked that she wasn’t a granny who baked and knitted, but a MIMI who would take her grandkids on drives at 2 am and search for adventures, or let her grandbabies try on old fancy dresses and pretend to be starlets while she made fake cocktails. Her storytelling was unmatched. She could draw us away from a TV for hours just making up stories. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the lights of her life. There truly was no one quite like our Mimi.

Known for her boundless compassion, quick wit, unwavering faith, determination, and incredible strength, Edwina touched countless lives throughout our community. Even in facing death, she continued to teach those around her. She wrote and spoke with remarkable honesty and peace about a subject many of us fear, and that peace has become a source of comfort for those she left behind.

In one of her journals, she wrote:

“When we die, what we will be most pleased with is not what we acquired, not what we achieved, or how much influence we had—not even our loved ones and friends. It will be what we did for others and our faith.”

Those words perfectly reflect the life she lived.

Edwina was preceded in death by those she loved who welcomed her home, her mother and father Hattie and Edwin, and her late husband Jim Hopkins.

She is survived by her husband, Stanley Evans; her children, Stephen Hopkins and Jimmie Hopkins; her grandchildren, Cheyann Hopkins, Emily Hopkins, and Stewart Hopkins; and her great grandchildren, Trayce Gray, Bodhi Gray, Kam Taylor, and Dax Taylor.

Though our hearts are broken, we find peace knowing she is exactly where she longed to be, with Jesus. At peace, healthy, and watching over all of those she loved. We know she was tackled at the pearly gates by a herd of cats and dogs who have missed her dearly.

As we navigate life without our beloved Mimi, we ask that you honor her memory by doing what she spent her life doing: helping an animal, lending a hand to someone in need, or showing kindness to someone who feels forgotten. That is the legacy she leaves behind, and the greatest way we can continue her work.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services of Springfield, MO.