Fayette resident, Eva Elizabeth Monfort Ridenour, passed away at The Lodge, July 27, 2025.

Eva was born on June 18, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, daughter of Vide and Frieda (Butler) Monfort of Arcola, Illinois.  She was a graduate of Arcola High School and furthered her education earning a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University.

She and her family lived around the Champaign-Urbana area for many years.  In 1970’s she moved with her husband Robert Ridenour and daughter Angel to Phoenix, Arizona.  She and Robert owned Bud’s Radiator Shop, where she learned how to fix radiators.  While in Phoenix, Eva also worked as an administrative assistant at Mission Insurance Company.  Her first venture in writing was the Mission Insurance Newsletter.  In 1985 the family moved back to her beloved Arcola, Illinois.  She worked for the University of Illinois Department of Sociology and French Department.  Eva moved to Armstong,

Missouri in 2002 to be closer to her family.  While in Armstrong, Eva was an active member of the community.  She served on the Armstrong City Council and on the Senior Center Board.  Eva’s greatest love was in her writing, where she wrote nine works of fiction, her family history “Sorghum and Quilts” and the history of Arcola, “The Little Town That Could”.  She wanted to be known for her poetry.  Many poems were published and award winning.  Despite her fear of horses, she learned to ride and went on a cattle drive, which inspired her book “Trail Boss”.  She was also recognized for her writing endeavors by being named a Distinguished Alumni of Arcola High School in 2024.

Survivors include her daughter, Angel (Wade A.) Monckton of Fayette, MO; granddaughter Lesley N. Monckton of Fayette, MO; sisters Suzanne Gray of Virden, IL; Linda (Paul) Houston of Urbana IL; brother Doug (Terrie) Monfort of Arcola, IL; and countless nieces and nephews.  Eva was preceded in death by her parents; Angel’s father, Bob Ridenour; grandson, Erik Monckton; and nephew, Ryan Monfort; and brother-in-law, Bill Gray.

A memorial service will be held 11 AM, Saturday, August 9, 2025 at the Fayette First Christian Church.  Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service starting at 10 AM, at the church.  The service will be streaming live on the church’s YouTube channel.  Inurnment will follow the service at Ashland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to BreakthroughT1D.org, formally known as Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Final arrangements are under the direction of Friemonth-Freese Funeral Service of Fayette.