Obituary of Evelyn Lois White

Tribute written by the children of Evelyn Lois White

Evelyn Lois White, 77, passed on to our eternal home in heaven on July 12, 2018 from Tumwater, Washington, after a very courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer. She was born in Pamona, California on January 30, 1941 to Wesely A. and Essie C. Durham. She lived in Washington State from 1969 to 2018 and made this our home.

Evelyn was first and foremost a wife, mother, and grandmother who put everyone else’s needs before her own. Her family was always her first concern and everything she did and everything she planned to do centered on the love of family.  According to family, she was beautiful, intelligent, kind, humble, loving and so many other things to all of us. “This will change our world as we know it in so many profound ways.” She guided her children and grandchildren through great times and rough waters and has been the person we all knew we could always count on. She never judged us she simply listened and imparted wisdom like only she could. That will not change as the things she taught us have shaped us into the people we are today and will guide each of her family members into our new futures. Mom, we will always lean on your life lessons and, although we may not be able to enjoy your physical presence, your presence in our lives will continue to guide who we are each and every day. It is only by the “Grace of God” that any of us make it through this this world, but you were and always will be our first encounter with pure and simple love that we need to survive.

Professionally, Evelyn was a valued employee of the Lacey Pay N Save store where she worked for 22 years and made many lifetime friends among co-workers and customers who valued her friendly helping nature and valued friendship that they could always count on.

Evelyn was an avid gardener who made her yard’s appearance impeccable. She also enjoyed canning, cooking, and teaching all of her grandchildren to love to bake as well. You will have to search for quite some time before you will find a lady who enjoyed fishing trips more than our mother; she simply was an inspired fisherman and loved her time on the water.

Evelyn is survived by her husband, Doug White of Tumwater; son, Dan White of Kennewick, Washington; daughter, Terrie Kelley of Florida; daughter, Tammy Cahill of Tumwater; daughter-in-law, Erin White of Kennewick; son-in-law, John Kelley of Florida; son-in-law, Dan Cahill of Tumwater; brother, Joe Durham of Georgia; nine grandchildren; and 23 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Amanda Christine Cahill, and great grandson, Braden Michael Benton.

Evelyn’s family will miss her each and every day and will depend on our faith in God to move forward. According to scripture Psalm 61:2—“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”