Evelyn D. Smith's Obituary
Evelyn Elaine Daniels Smith
March 5,1922 — March 18, 2014
I write my epitaph
Not on marble nor rough-hewn stone;
But rather in each mind and soul of family, friend, student:
Especially these three;
That some of my zest for life:
Nurturing, serving, learning, loving,
Might aid in abetting human strife,
And that this peace might be passed on by others
When I’m “called home.”
Words on Emily Dickinson’s tombstone and chosen by Evelyn for her own epitaph.
From the Kansas prairie, the middle child of nine children, Evelyn’s life trajectory took her beyond the hardships of farm life during the depression and dust bowl years to Northwestern University where she earned both a Bachelors and a Masters degree.
She always remembered her roots.
Evelyn met Ralph J. Smith at a Methodist institute in Salina, Kansas, and they married in 1943.
They took a church in Wauconda, Illinois, and while there they had four daughters: Jolyn Elaine, Jennifer Jane, Tanya Gay, and Teri Kay.
After Wauconda, she helped her husband found Faith United Methodist Church in Waukegan, Illinois, where she began her 25 plus year career teaching English at Waukegan Township High School.
Together, they dedicated themselves to the Methodist Church and to social causes. Some examples of their teamwork included introducing integrated worship services to the Waukegan area, serving the under-served, and publicly opposing the Vietnam War.
Evelyn had many passions. She directed bell choirs, children and adult choirs, and often accompanied at the piano. She performed one-woman shows, read and wrote poetry, and taught English with a dramatic flair. Her love of the English language and literature prompted her to earn a second Masters degree in linguistics while working full-time as a teacher.
Evelyn and Ralph served several churches in northern Illiniois as well as in New Zealand. Evelyn also led disaster relief efforts in Illinois after retiring from teaching.
After moving to Arizona, Evelyn and Ralph continued to be active in the Methodist church and in other areas of social service.
Seven years after Ralph’s death, Evelyn moved to Oakland, California in order to live near her three surviving daughters (2003).
Before leaving Green Valley, Arizona, a fellow parishioner from Santa Cruz Valley Church interviewed her. When asked what aspect of church life she liked best, Evelyn answered, “I’m a people person and anything people are involved in, I enjoy . . . social action, worship, activities where people work together.”
She told the interviewer that as a child in Luray, Kansas, (pop. 300) she was called “Hank the Hired Hand”, because she followed her dad around and wore overalls with a kerchief sticking out of the back pocket. Evelyn also said that she loved “the challenge and thrill of doing new things.” Another example of this was helping her husband begin the Interfaith Chaplaincy Service of Lake County, Illinois to serve the residents of county institutions.
Evelyn was featured in a Look magazine article, “The Many Lives of a Minister’s Wife” (5/1/56). After following Evelyn around, the author concluded that “Evelyn was always on tap to answer a shrilling phone, crank the church duplicating machine, bake a pie for Ladies’ Auxiliary, teach Sunday school, lend her soprano to the choir, turn a deaf ear to gossips, comfort those whose burdens are heavy, grapple with the rearing of four kinetic daughters–and be a gentle sermon critic and confidante to her husband besides.”
Evelyn was a powerful presence and touched many lives throughout her 92 years. We miss her.
Donations in her name can be made to:
the Jennifer Gallaugher Fund, SEDOL, Attn: Linda, 18160 W. Gages Lake Rd. Gages Lake, IL 60030,
the church of your choice,
United Methodist Women, a local affiliate or UMW, National office, Interchurch Center,
475 Riverside Drive, 15th Floor, NY, NY 10115
CANHR, 650 Harrison St., second floor, San Francisco, CA 94107
or the charity of your choice.
Memorial service
Saturday, April 12
Chapel of the Chimes, top floor, easy access from Howe St. (4499 Piedmont Ave, front and side doors.)
3:15 pm
Reception at daughter’s after service.
What’s your fondest memory of Evelyn?
What’s a lesson you learned from Evelyn?
Share a story where Evelyn's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Evelyn you’ll never forget.
How did Evelyn make you smile?