BE A PART OF EVELYN'S CREATIVE CENTER

The story behind Evelyn's Creative Center

Evelyn's Creative Center is a children’s space in the new Texas County library in Houston Missouri. This space was made possible with friends and family of 9-year-old Evelyn Dieckhaus.

Nine-year-old Evelyn lost her earthly life Monday, March 27, 2023 along with classmates William, Hallie and three faculty members in the Nashville school shooting.

Evelyn was an artist, deep thinker, problem solver and compassionate friend to old and young alike. She loved God, animals and children; had a strong faith and made those around her feel important. Each summer, Evelyn visited her grandparent’s “Kamp Houston” with her sister and cousins. Bugs were collected, turtle houses built, t-shirts dyed and fish caught. Evelyn hoped to be an occupational therapist and work with special needs children.

It is love of Evelyn that is the inspiration for this children’s space in the Library.

Evelyn Marie Dieckhaus Creative Center

In the very heart of downtown Houston, the pillars of our new Texas County Library stand facing the rising sun. Sun rays create tiny rainbows of color on the polished edges of a giant, graceful, iron butterfly that provides a resting spot for visitors. It appears to take flight from a future wildflower garden rimmed with rocks from a local Ozark farm and pavers from a historic Houston building.

The library, inside and out, stands as a beautiful offering to the future to our community. It is the work of many hands creating miracles, many heads solving problems and many feet changing directions as paths veered and obstacles arose. This library, this landmark, will always hold a special piece of our hearts. For inside and outside are symbols and evidence of God's promise. During the earliest and darkest days following our granddaughter Evelyn Marie Dieckhaus' loss of earthly life, generous hearts began to make possible the Evelyn Marie Dieckhaus Creative Center. The library's children's center is filled with the beauty, wonder and inspiration of God's creation from a child's view and a bug's eye. Its accomplishment is a miracle enabled by so many right people at the right time. We feel Evelyn's approval with so many things she loves and the acts that made it possible.

The iron butterfly made by the high school welding class under Adam Vandiver's direction and student Blake Talbott's artistic skills, combines beauty and strength, two traits that get us to rise above lifes difficulties. Done by Houston students, it is a special tribute and promise of our future youth who will make this world a better place.

So, in the very deep, darkest part of our hearts, where we keep our greatest sorrows, we find gratitude, and we marvel at its power. For as the sorrow and gratitude collide in that deep place, it transforms, and we find a most perplexing feeling of joy. Then...we realize, it is Love, of the Greatest kind. The kind that provides marvelous joy and promises that defy all natural logic.

May you know that you are a part of that miraculous love, that joy and that promise.

Evelyn would say, "Believe."

With Love and Gratitude, Kathy and Joe Richardson Mike, Katy and Eleanor Dieckhaus, Tom and Linda Dieckhaus.

BE A PART OF EVELYN'S CREATIVE CENTER

The story behind Evelyn's Creative Center

Evelyn's Creative Center coming into being

Evelyn Marie Dieckhaus Creative Center

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