Valita Evans Obituary

Valita Rae (Longaker) Evans

March 27, 1957 - September 27, 2024

Valita Rae (Longaker) Evans, 67, passed away peacefully in Melbourne, Florida.

Valita was born in Topeka, Kansas, on March 27, 1957 to her parents Harold and Jeanne Longaker. Valita graduated from Highland Park High School in 1975.

In 1977, Valita married Bill Gillispie in Lawrence, Kansas, later moving to Baldwin City. They had five children, raising them in Baldwin where she called home for 20 years.

Valita was a dedicated career woman and met many people in her professional life who she called a friend.

Later in life, Valita loved traveling, quilting, baking, watching a good TV series, and she never turned down a good margarita. Some of her most memorable travel spots included beaches and she spent the last two years of her life near the beach in Florida.

Valita prioritized family and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and family dogs. She rarely missed events, whether it was cross country meets, basketball games, soccer or baseball.

Valita was preceded in death by her father, Harold Longaker, and niece, Shawna Lister. She is survived by her mother, Jeanne Longaker, Topeka, Kansas; brother, Mark Thurman (Le Ann); sisters Vicki Lister, Debbie Dabney (Jeff), and Mary Bakken; son Paul Gillispie (Asako); daughter, Jessica Thompson; son Jimmy Gillispie (Rachel); daughter Leslie Gillispie; daughter Anna Gillispie; and five grandchildren, Turner, Owen, Evelyn, Nobu and Isabelle, three nieces and one nephew.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Sunday, November 3, 2024 anytime between 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044. Scheduled speaking will begin at 1:30 p.m. followed by reception style visitation. In honor of what she enjoyed, sand and surf resort attire welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to causes Valita was fond of: Wounded Warriors Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ or your local humane society.