Elva Eskew Soapes

Elva Eskew Soapes, 91, retired architectural draftsman with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, died Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at NHC Healthcare Dickson. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 3:30 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Thad Austin and Rev. Jacob Clark Armstrong officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to First United Methodist Church, 265 West Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Forgey Cleveland "F.C." Eskew and the late Janie Goodwin Eskew. Her husband, Ernest Hershel Soapes, preceded her in death December 11, 1985. Mrs. Soapes had attended Peabody College and University of Chicago. A very devout and faithful Christian, she was a member of First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro. Survivors include her daughters, Jannie (Tom) Stinson of Burns; Joyce Vaughn of Murfreesboro; Barbara (Bill) Davis of Clayton, NC; nine grandchildren, Thomas Cleve Stinson, Sheldon (Jon) Heugel, Scott Stinson, Ginger (Dennis) Raffield, Kim (Chuck) Eades, Victoria (David) Strain, Kathy (Mark) Spangler, Ramona (John) Dameron, Buddy (Amy) Davis; fourteen great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Mildred Eskew Mabry and Betty Eskew Clark; brother, Cleve Arden Eskew; and son-in-law, James Vaughn.