Florence Rose Evans

Florence Rose Evans: Wife, Mother and Community Leader, 1921-2008 Parker resident and long time Coloradoan, Florence Rose Evans died peacefully in her sleep Monday evening July 21, 2008, at her home in Cottonwood. Florence, daughter of Frank and Rose Archer, was born in North Chicago, Illinois on May 23, 1921. Florence as the wife of Merf D. Evans, celebrated her 65th wedding anniversary on June 26, and she is the mother of three children, John, James and Rosemary and eight grandchildren; Mike, Pat, Dan, Jenny, Evan, John-Paul, Rick and Katherine. Florence grew up during the Depression and lived with her mother and her older sister, Lille. Their father died while the girls were still very young. Their very determined Catholic mother of Polish-descent raised them alone, with older sister Lille taking over during the time when their mother was very ill. Florence was an ""A"" student in North Chicago High School and was a National Medal winner. Following her high school graduation she enrolled in a high fashion Modeling School in Chicago to begin the first of several very successful careers. Her popularity soon led to an offer to join a bank in Waukegan, Illinois. After the bombing of Peal Harbor, Florence was very quick to volunteer to help her country by signing up to work in an organization called the United Service Organization [USO]. The USO was formed by the War Department to provide entertainment to our troops. This is how she met and married her husband Merf. Florence and Merf were married in the Chapel at the Great Lakes Naval Base Hospital in Illinois. Because Merf served in the Pacific Theatre of operation during the war, Florence moved to San Rafael, California so she could be with him whenever his ship returned to the States. During all of this time Florence continued to work in war-related business. The war ended and the two were reunited in San Francisco. Following the war, Florence and her husband moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where her husband resumed his career in Theatre Management. Florence worked for the United States Forest Service. Before their own children arrived they often helped Florence's sister with her two daughters, Joyce and Janice, who Florence and Merf always loved and enjoyed so very much. During the next ten years Florence had three children; John, James, and Rosemary. Florence was active in their church and their Catholic schools including football, baseball, swimming and dance activities. In her spare time Florence would assist Merf in the management of motion picture theatres in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Ordway, Craig, Lakewood and Johnstown, Colorado. Wherever Florence lived, she always would turn her situation into a happy occasion. It was always a pleasure for her to get her hands into a pile of dirt and start a flower garden. She had a smile and a quick wit that warmed everyone, and which resulted in friendships that were legendary. During the time that Florence and her family lived in Craig, Colorado, they were very active in St. Michaels Catholic Church. When they lived in Lakewood, Colorado they attended St. Bernadette Catholic Church. The children attended St. Bernadette Catholic School and somehow she found time to teach literature to 8th grade honor students for four years at St. Bernadette Catholic School in Lakewood, Colorado, using the Great Books series. She also served on the Board of the Visiting Nurse Association. Florence also was President of the JayCee-etts (which was an extension of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce), was an officer in the Altar and Rosary Society and assisted in the school lunch program at St. Bernadette. When her children reached a degree of maturity that she felt comfortable, Florence accepted a position as the Executive Secretary to the Superintendent of State Education of the Colorado Department of Education. Former Commissioner of Education, Dr. Vest often praised her work for the Department of Education under him. When her husband Merf was transferred to Atlanta, Georgia in 1970, Florence and her Family moved to DeKalb County (Merf was Program Director for the National Highway Traffic Safety Association). They joined Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in NE Atlanta. Florence also became active in the Garden Club within the swim and tennis community where they lived known as Brittany. With Rosemary in middle school and the boys away attending the University of Denver, Florence decided to accept an offer to join the Atlanta Retail Credit Company as an Executive Secretary. Within a short time she was first promoted several times until finally she was asked to work for the President of their parent company, Equifax Inc. It was during this time that Florence pursued her certification as a ""Professional Secretary"". Florence was known by everyone for her charm and poise, but also for her professionalism, attention to detail, and wit. Once she had successfully obtained her Professional Secretary certification, and while still working full-time, Florence then pursued her Associate Degree in Business with then DeKalb College in Dunwoody, Georgia (now Perimeter College). She finished with Honors at the top of her class. Once all the children were married and the home was ""an empty nest,"" Florence turned her attention to helping at Our Lady of Assumption Church and Brittany's Garden Club. She also took the time to learn how to fly the airplane Merf had bough, so she could assist him in their flying adventures throughout the United States, visiting her family, grandkids and friends. She loved flying with Merf to their home in Winter Haven, Florida. Another unique activity that gave Florence great pleasure is when she and Merf would ""go dancing"". Recalling from her early training in entertainment in Chicago, Florence and Merf would put on tap dancing shows in and around Atlanta, sometimes two and three shows a week. As the old show business expression goes, ""she would bring down the house."" Among the groups and activities that Florence belonged to, it must be said that one of her favorite groups was the square dance club where she danced twice a week. She also loved going to anyplace a band would be playing ""Big Band"" music to dance with Merf. During Florence's lifetime she always found time to work within the Catholic church both in active physical participation and devoted worship. Her love for the Holy Family and especially her devotion to Mary sustained her through many trials and gave her the strength to fulfill her duties as a mother, a loving wife and a child of God. Florence's love of God and His Church will live forever in the strength and love she leaves in her children. She loved it when, and asked that her family would continue to be faithful in praying the Rosary. Florence was with her family and was listening to the Rosary when she died. Florence is survived by her husband, the former director of the Colorado Highway Safety Council, Merf Evans; Her three children: Sons – John M. Evans a former Colorado State Senator and Parker attorney, and James D. Evans a distinguished attorney in Aurora. Daughter Rosemary Evans Woodford of Parker works as a Special Projects Coordinator for the Law Firm of John Evans and is also a former banker. It delighted Florence to leave a legacy of eight Grandchildren: Michael, Patrick, Daniel, Jennifer Evans, Evan and John-Paul Evans, and Rick and Katherine Woodford. Religious services at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Parker: Sunday July 27 @ 7pm for a Recitation of the Rosary. On Monday July 28 the Funeral Mass @ 11 a.m. at Ave Maria, then Burial Service at Ft. Logan National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.. From 3-7pm a light Buffet at Florence and Merf's home at 8331 Currant Way, Parker, CO 80134. The Family requests donations in lieu of flowers to: Hospice of St. John Denver, Home Hospice, 1320 Everett Court, Lakewood, CO 80215; Attn: Lorene Detzner. The Hospice of St. John helped to take care of Florence in her final weeks.