Eunice "Buttermilk" W. Hopkins, 95, passed away Sept. 4, 2015 in the home of her granddaughter, Adie, due to renal failure.

In the fall of 1919, Eunice was born at home on the Chisholm Trail, near Hennessey, Oklahoma, the second child of Chester and Minnie (Hershberger) Moore.

The family moved to Springfield after losing their home in a flood and Eunice started fourth grade at Bowerman Elementary. She attended Reed Junior High and Central High School, class of 1938 and won many awards in gymnastic competitions. Eunice enrolled in college and graduated in 1942 from Central Bible College (formally known as Central Bible Institute) While in her last year of college, a blind date would change her life forever.

After writing to her "soldier boyfriend" for four years, he returned home from war and she became Mrs. Charles Hopkins in April of 1946. The following year, a daughter was born and Charley named her Patsy. Four years later, another daughter was born and Eunice named her Mary Ann.

Eunice was a stay at home mom, but hardly ever stayed home. She was active in PTA, leadership in Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls, church activities and pottery classes. She was a charter member of Hillbilly Garden Club, Ritter Extension Club, memberships that continued until her death. Eunice''s cooking was mediocre, but her baking was outstanding. Everything was made from scratch-coconut cakes, cinnamon rolls, dilly bread and ginger snap cookies, which won many blue ribbons at the Ozark Empire Fair. She was a beautiful seamstress and made most of her family''s clothing.

At the age of 65, she got her first drivers license. This was an adventure that didn''t last too long (probably because she only made right-hand turns!) Eunice''s life span included seventeen presidencies, five major wars and the Great Depression. She witnessed so many world events and grew with the changing world of technology. When she had an unanswered question, she would call someone, asking them to "google" her question. She knew most of the songs by Peter, Paul and Mary and her favorite movie was "Paint Your Wagon". In her younger years, she played beautiful music on the mandolin. Eunice was a two-time breast cancer survivor, at the age of 43 and again at the age of 84.

Eunice was a member of Springfield Bible Church. She was the last to move out of her old neighborhood, living in the same house for 61 years. She had the most obnoxious pet, Hooter, an Amazon parrot, but they were buddies.

Eunice had an amazing talent for water color painting and even had a one-woman art exhibition for the city of Springfield. She made life long friendships, leaving special memories with Virginia Good, Ann Blood, June Long and many others. When asked what her biggest regret in life was, she responded, "I never learned to play golf".

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charley; daughter, Mary Ann Bakker; sister, Betty Mae Stapp and brothers, Lawrence and Billy Moore.

Her survivors include daughter, Patsy (Phil) Gateley; grandson, Andy (Lisa) Gateley; granddaughters, Adie and Grace Gateley and great-grandchildren, Ellie, Kain and Cora; life long friendships with Virginia Good, Ann Blood, June Long and many others.

Chapel services will be Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 2 PM at Klingner-Cope at Midtown, 1635 N. Benton, Springfield, MO. Burial will be at a later date in the Springfield National Cemetery.

A very special thank you to Oxford Hospice, Curt Zachary and Kathy Haralson.

Memorial donations may be made in honor of Eunice to Friends of the Garden, PO Box 8566, Springfield, MO 65801