Mildred Evans

Martha Mildred Evans, 95, died in Billings, Montana August 2, 2004. She was born to Elmer A. and Grace (Young) Maxwell on November 11, 1908 in Woodbine, Iowa. She attended school in Woodbine and graduated from Woodbine Normal School in 1926. She taught country school near Woodbine and attended and graduated from Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls Iowa. She taught in Irwin Iowa for five years. She married Charles Harold Evans on June 8, 1939 in her parents home in Woodbine. To this marriage a son, John Harold was born in September 1942. Harold was called to military service in November 1944 and was killed in action one year later. She taught kindergarten, third grade, and was a reading tutor in Woodbine Public School until her retirement in 1974. She continued to live in her home in Woodbine until 1996 when she moved to Billings to be near her son and family.
Mom was a remarkable woman. She was a committed Christian, loving mother, dedicated teacher, and active in her community. She loved her country, was a true patriot and remained interested in national and international affairs until her death. She was active in her church, serving on boards and committees and taught an adult Sunday School class for many, many years. She loved to read and study the Bible. This passion continued as she was active in a Bible study group in her retirement home at Westpark Village in Billings. She provided for and raised her son with love, compassion and understanding, being both a mother and a father. She was born to be a teacher, nurturing and encouraging each student to experience learning to the fullest. She was proud of her community and looked for opportunities to participate. She served on the board of the Woodbine Community Development Corporation which was instrumental in the planning and construction of a low income housing project.
She was a strong supporter of the American Field Service program which brought foreign exchange students to Woodbine for the school year. Although she was not able to host a student, she enjoyed getting to know each student and maintained contact with several of them until the end of her life. In addition to her love of country, she loved to travel inside and outside the United States and took great pride in recalling the highlights of each trip. She had a passion for genealogy and completed an extended search of her heritage and family tree. She believed that it was important to keep both her mind and body active and true to her belief she walked regularly and read with eagerness. She loved poetry, collected several poetry books and could recall and recite many favorite poems.
Mildred was preceded in death by her husband Harold, her mother and father, and her sister, Mabel Poe. She is survived by her son John, his wife Dorothy of Billings, Montana; grandchildren Lynette Oderifero (Dan) and Philip Evans (Myki): six great-grandchildren: her sister, Marjorie Hood of Woodbine, Iowa and many other relatives and friends.

Services
First Christian Church
Woodbine, Iowa
Saturday, August 7, 2004 at 10:30 AM

Clergy Rev. John Eilers

Musician Margaret Cotton
Congregational Hymn "How Great Thou Art"
Vocalist Max Poe
"He Touched Me"

Pall Bearers
Philip Evans Norman Abbott
William "Bud" Bruner Thomas Hodges
Ronald Hood Steven Raver

Final Resting Place
Woodbine Cemetery
Woodbine, Iowa