Obituary of Evelyn Worthen

Born January 25, 1911 to William and Rena Shuster in Eureka, California, Evelyn passed away after a stroke on November 9, 2014 in Centralia, Washington, at the age of 103. She graduated from Eureka High School in 1928, received a BA in education from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California in 1932, and did one year of graduate work at Pasadena Nazarene College in Pasadena, California in 1937. Evelyn lived in Bridgeville, California, as a country school teacher (1932-1936) before her marriage to Harold Lewis “Jim” Worthen on September 27, 1938 in Eureka, where she lived until she was 93. Besides teaching school, she was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom. The last ten years of her life were spent at Colonial Residence in Centralia, Washington. Evelyn was diligent, giving, caring, kind and friendly, and always did her very best in whatever she pursued. She was a poet and novelist, including A Castle in Fairyland, based on the Carson Mansion in Eureka, and The Unfolding Drama of Bridgeville. She wrote in personal journals for more than 50 years. She also loved reading, scrapbooking, flower arranging, and cooking. An active church member of the First Church of the Nazarene and the First Covenant Church in Eureka, Evelyn loved organizing church social events, playing the organ and teaching Sunday School, including kindergarten, the junior department, college and adult classes. She was a church youth leader, social chairwoman for church and teen activities, and church board secretary. She also was active in Christian Women’s Club and the local Gideon Society, and a member of a writers’ group. Evelyn is survived by her son, James Lewis (Ruth) Worthen and their children, Jim, Michael and Deborah; son, Robert Wesley (Toni) Worthen and his children, Ethan and Aaron; daughter, Carolyn Sue (Gary) Powell and their children, Todd and Gary; and great grandchildren, Olivia, Desiree, Harley, Annyka, Ashli, Erin, and Tyler. She was predeceased by her husband Jim; son, William David Worthen, who only lived four days; her parents; grandparents from Norway, T.A. and Ingeborg Nelson; brothers, Melvin, Carroll and Merle Shuster. She will be greatly missed by and live in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Please leave memories of Evelyn or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.