Evelyn R. West

Evelyn Rose Garrett West was born to John F. Garrett and Grace B. Frost Garrett on August 27, 1922. She was one of six children in the family. She passed away on August 28, 2011 at Fairmont, Nebraska at the age of 89 years. She was born on a farm northeast of Geneva and attended rural School Dist. #3 until the family moved near Fairmont where she attended rural School Dist. #17. She graduated from Fairmont High School in 1940 after which she entered a Business School in Lincoln, Nebraska. Thereafter she secured employment at The Lincoln News Agency working there until called home by the illness and death of her Mother. Most of the farm was purchased by the U. S. Government and was incorporated into the Fairmont Army Airfield. After the remaining part of the farm was sold she moved with her Father, Brother and Sister to Los Angeles, CA in September 1944. Evelyn was united in marriage to Walter L. West, formerly of Fairmont At Port Angeles, WA on November 16, 1944. They resided in a logging camp at Pysht River, WA and later in the small logging town of Sappho, WA where Walt was employed as a Timekeeper/Bookkeeper for a large lumber company. To them two sons were born, Walter Douglas on September 16, 1945 and Dwight Allen on August 26, 1948. In 1952 the family moved back to Fairmont, NE where Walt entered into partnership with his brothers Max and Henry in their general construction company, at which time West Bros. Home Improvement Store was built. During this time Evelyn and Walt took part in many school and town activities. Their pride and joy was in their sons and they happily supported them in all their activities. She assisted in heart and cancer drives and served as Cub Scout Mother. Not an organization devotee, Evelyn took pride as homemaker, wife and mother. When their sons were ages 9 and 12, Evelyn felt a need to find some type of work she could do and still remain at home. Having a secret ambition for journalism, she saw a need for some sort of Fairmont news publication. With the aid and support of Walt she established a small newsletter-type weekly paper in 1957. Entitled "What's About Town" but locally known as "The Yellow Sheet.” She continued the weekly publication for 21 years missing only 7 issues for short and infrequent get aways. Monday mornings would find Evelyn gathering ads from the town merchants. The first home-delivery boys were sons Doug and Dwight. As they outgrew the job, hosts of other boys and girls hand delivered the paper. Delivery of the free paper was to every home and business in Fairmont and on the Fairmont rural routes. Approximately 565 copies were delivered every Wednesday whether they were wanted it or not -- Evelyn always said "if you don't want to read the paper, it's good for lining wastepaper baskets and bird cages". Evelyn sold her printing business in June of 1978. After Walt's sudden death in January 1979, Evelyn decided to return to the work force and was employed as an accountant for the Food Service Dept. of York College in York, NE, then later accepted the opportunity to work at the York County Court in a clerical capacity. She retired from the York County Court in February 1983. Evelyn delighted in getting the members of her 1940 Class of Fairmont High School together. She was instrumental in arranging several reunions which were well attended and enjoyed by all of her former classmates. Her sons and their families who were always her greatest interest along with her very special friend, Ralph Coates of Exeter helped fill the void left by Walt's passing. Their loving support, company and help were so very important to her. Preceding her in death besides Walt were his parents, her parents and grandparents, two sisters and two brothers. Survivors are sister, Donna Wilkins, sister-in-law Dorothy Garrett, sons Doug, Dwight and his wife Karen, granddaughter Kendra and husband David Larson, grandson Ryan and his wife Brandi, granddaughter Bailey West and grandson Mitchell West, great-granchildren, Skylar Kuil, Emma, Alexander, Isaac and Ethan Larson. Memorial services for Evelyn will be held Friday, September 2, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the Fairmont Community Church in Fairmont, Nebraska. No visitation. Committal of ashes will be held at a later date in the Fairmont Public Cemetery. Memorials are directed to the Fairmont Community Church or the Fairmont Senior Center.

Tributes

Evelyn R. West

August 27, 1922 - August 28, 2011