Obituary of Ila M. Evans

Ila M. Evans, 98, formerly of 9 Owana Way, Lakewood, died at 6:10 a.m. Saturday, August 20, 2016 at the Lutheran Retirement Home. She was born December 3, 1917 in Shelby, Ohio, a daughter of the late Bernice and John Crawford. Prior to becoming a permanent resident of Lakewood in 1998, she and her late husband were residents of New Smyrna Beach, Florida for many years. Ila was an elementary school teacher for many years, receiving B.S. and M.S. (Cum Laude) degrees from Florida Atlantic University. In the years following her teaching career, she devoted a great amount of time to helping others in many charitable organizations, including literary volunteer and Hospice volunteer. She was also keenly interested in politics, working on numerous campaigns hoping for the best America possible. Ila was always there for her family, providing the example for each one of them on how one should live life. She lived a life that was always about others and not her. Even to the very end, Ila never complained but drew strength from the love she gave and received from those around her, both family and friends. She will always be remembered as the most loved and admired matriarch of the family. Surviving are her sons, William A. Evans and his wife, Kathleen, of Lakewood, NY and John M. Evans and his wife, Jamie, of Hilton Head, SC; a daughter, Roseann E. Parrish and her husband, Michael, of Marietta, GA; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and a sister, Corrine C. Fulkerson of Fort Wayne, IN. Ila was preceded in death by her husband, William T. Evans, whom she married in 1937 and who died in 1998; as well as a brother, Harry Crawford and sister, Rose Rinker. The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Daniel S. Rumfelt will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 1 to 3 p.m., for two hours prior to the service in the funeral home Tuesday. Memorials may be made to the Lutheran Social Services Foundation, 715 Falconer St., Jamestown, NY 14701.