The songs that will be played at the funeral include some of her favorites: “We’ll Work ’Til Jesus Comes,” “A Beautiful Life (Life’s Evening Sun),” “When They Ring the Golden Bells,” “Jesus Met the Woman at the Well” sung by her daughter Janet Hilbert, and “Amazing Grace.”
The service will be officiated by her sons Pastor Joe Hall and Dr. Mark Hall, and David Hall will read a special poem that he wrote. Pallbearers include her grandsons, Michael Hall, Jonathan Hall, Anthony Hilbert, Tyler Hilbert, Joshua Hall, and Jacob Hall.
Eva Marie (Semsch) Hall was born to Arnold Edwin Semsch and Minnie Gertrude Owings on March 13, 1935, in Seymour, Missouri—the youngest daughter of eight siblings. She moved with her family from the Missouri Ozarks to Bates County on February 1938, turning 3 the next month.
Eva attended Amsterdam Baptist Church and was led in the sinner’s prayer by Brother Williams and was saved May 1948; she said she always believed in Jesus. She and her sister Mildred went forward at church to show their profession of faith, and they were baptized in Miami Creek at Vinton Ford east of Amsterdam.
Eva always had a love for learning. She couldn’t wait for school to start, so she went when she was very young, even though she did not attend enough days to count for first grade. She continued her education and attended 7 years at the Forbes country school, 4 years at Amsterdam School, 2 years at Miami R-1 School, and got a scholarship to the University of Central Missouri for 1 year (3 terms) where she majored in pre-nursing classes after the Lord spoke to her in an audible voice, “That’s what I want you to do—go into nursing.”
She then went into nursing school at Kansas City General Hospital #1 in September 1954 and finished September 1957. Her graduation ceremony was held in April of 1957, in a Kansas City, Missouri church with a class of 42 students. Once she completed her boards, she became a licensed Registered Nurse on September 10th after she went over to the nursing office and was handed her pin and diploma by Florence M. Clark, the director of nursing.
Eva met her future husband, Floyd Leroy Hall on September 12th, 1957, introduced by his sister Doris June (Hall) Johnson who had graduated with Eva in her nursing class. June had started the year before but took time out to marry Kenneth Leon Johnson and have their first child Brenda Gail (Johnson) Smith. Floyd and Eva were married on Sunday, April 13, 1958, at the little Baptist Church in Amsterdam, Missouri by the pastor, Brother James York. Her oldest brother Johnny gave her away. Attendants were her sister Mary Jane (Semsch) Bise and Clyde Gerald Hall, her husband’s brother.
Floyd and Eva had four beautiful children: Mark Randall, Janet Marie, David Wayne, and Joseph Leroy Hall. Mark Randall Hall, the first child, was born May 14, 1959. After his birth, she moved to day shift when she went back to work and stayed on that shift until her retirement. She worked at Kansas City General Hospital #1 until she had Janet Marie Hall on May 30, 1960.
She worked at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Missouri from October 1960 to October 1962. David Wayne Hall was born at this hospital on July 4, 1962. Joseph Leroy Hall was born at the Wetzel Hospital on October 21, 1964. She was a loving mother, who never missed fixing dinner and giving the kids a bath after her shift. Eva worked at Wetzel Osteopathic Hospital from October 1962 to February 29, 1972 and at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital from February 29, 1972 to December 19, 1994, located in Clinton, Missouri, a total of 22 years. She fell down and broke her right wrist on the evening of December 19, 1994, and retired from nursing at that time.
She devoted 40 years to nursing counting the 3 years of training. She worked 3-11 shifts for 2 years and 8 months from September 1957 to April 1959 at Kansas City General Hospital #1 and 7-3 shifts for 35 years. Her patients often remarked of the kindness and compassion that she showed toward them. She brought healing and hope to so many lives through her nursing profession.
Eva was an excellent cook, entertaining family and friends, and even compiled her own recipe book. She loved pictures, faithfully identifying every person and place—scrapbooking and assembling dozens of photo albums. She collected business cards and thimbles and was an enthusiastic fan of Gone with the Wind. An excellent writer, Eva had nearly completed her memoirs. She was known for her exemplary charting as a nurse and kept a diary for decades, recording daily events. Her mind was sharp as a tack; she had an amazing memory and remembered detailed events from her childhood. She enjoyed taking care of houseplants, especially African violets and Christmas cactuses.
Even though in later years Eva was homebound, she had a thriving ministry. She called, wrote letters, sent cards, and prayed for relatives and friends on a daily basis. She was an avid prayer warrior, praying especially for her family every morning when she woke up at 4 am. When someone needed prayer, she immediately took up the cause and began petitioning heaven and calling many others to join her. That is why her family affectionately called her “Mama Moses.”
Eva was preceded in death by her husband Floyd Leroy Hall, dad Arnold Edwin Semsch, mother Minnie Gertrude Owings, and her eight siblings—Bessie, Mildred, Johnny, Audrey, Mary Jane, Arnold, Jr., Herbert, and Joe. She leaves behind four children and their spouses: Mark and Rachel Hall of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Janet and Fred Hilbert of Calhoun, Missouri; David and Dana Hall of Clinton, Missouri; and Joseph and Marlene Hall of Calhoun, Missouri. She also leaves behind 12 grandchildren—Jonathan, Kathryne, Anthony, Tyler, Michael, Matthew, Shana, Charity, Christa, Anna, Joshua, and Jacob, 14 great grandchildren, numerous nephews and nieces, and friends to mourn her passing. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren brought immeasurable joy to her life.
Eva worked tirelessly, never giving up—a rock to her family. Her candy jar was always full. She never missed a birthday, and each family member looked forward to the gift tucked inside the card she sent to each one of them. She lived a beautiful life, and her light will continue to shine on through everyone who knew and loved her.
