Evelyn Lydia Hope, 82, of Aurora died Thursday, May 1, 2008, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. She was born June 21, 1925 between Lorton and Talmage to Carl and Florence (Liesemeyer) Damme.

She graduated from Talmage High School in 1943. She worked for the School for the Blind in Nebraska City for six years as a maid.

On Aug. 26, 1949, she married Robert A. Hope at McWilliams Church near Talmage. They lived in Nebraska City for four years before moving to Aurora in May of 1953.

She was a member of the Aurora United Methodist Church, the Sarah Circle and the V.F.W. Auxiliary. She loved to crochet and play bingo. She enjoyed traveling, taking bus tours and going to the China-Burma-India military reunions with her husband.

She was preceded in death by son Gordon Hope and an infant son.

She is survived by her husband, Bob Hope of Aurora; daughter Nancy (Dale) Sallans of Platte, S.D.; two sons, Jon (Terri) Hope of Aurora and Alan Hope of Grand Island; six grandchildren, Jessica (Casey) Peterson, Nathaniel Sallans, Justin, Jamie, Jeremy and Joel Hope; two great-grandchildren, Breanna and Clark Peterson; a sister, Verna Gress of Nebraska City; and a brother, Raymond Damme of Talmage.

Funeral services were Monday, May 5, at the Aurora United Methodist Church. Rev. Richard Karohl officiated. Interment was in the Aurora Cemetery.

Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

Higby-McQuiston Mortuary of Aurora was in charge of arrangements.