Evelyn Faye Boulton
1925-2015
Evelyn Faye Boulton, longtime resident of Oklahoma City, died December 17, 2015 at age 90, after a brave battle against cancer.
She was born in Cathay, OK, a small community in McIntosh County, now covered by Lake Eufaula. She was the youngest of three children of Gabe Atlas Johnson and his wife Noda West Johnson. The family moved to Punkin Center, OK, where her father operated a general store. Evelyn was a graduate of Liberty High School where she was valedictorian of her class of eight students, a fact that always brought much laughter in her family. She was a 1946 graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a degree in marketing. While she was at OU she captured the heart of John W. "Bill" Boulton Jr., who had returned from combat in France to finish his degree at OU. They were married in 1947 after a whirlwind romance. Family lore says she shot a squirrel on their first date, which sealed the deal with Bill. They were married 68 years.
Evelyn lived a life of service to her family, her church and her friends. A stranger was someone she hadn't met. She was always ready to provide a sour cream and rice casserole to anyone in need. Evelyn loved laughter, friends and her family. They called her the "baby whisperer" because she loved babies and they loved her. She worked in the nursery at Metropolitan Baptist Church for many years, until she and Bill moved to Epworth Villa.
She was a longtime member of the Bluebells, a neighborhood gardening club that was not as much about gardening as it was about friendship. When asked if she had an opinion about the problems of the world, she said, "No, I just make cookies." Her cookie jar was legendary. It was a huge, glass antique, which had been used in her father's country store, and which she tried to keep supplied. Back in the days of CB radio, she answered to "Sugar Cookie."
Evelyn is survived by her beloved husband Bill, three children, Cynthia and husband John Merwin of Chatham, N.J., son Bill Boulton III, Austin, TX, and Sarah and husband David Evans, Edmond. She is also survived by grandchildren Anne Merwin and husband Andrew Shoaff, Susan Merwin, Joanna Boulton, Emily Bischoff and husband Matt, and Ben Evans. There are three great-grandchildren, Sam and Jonah Shoaff, and Evelyn's namesake, Evelyn Bischoff.
Evelyn's family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Epworth at Home Hospice, particularly Suzanne and Emily. The family also thanks the staff at Epworth Villa for their years of compassionate kindness to Evelyn.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 1PM at Metropolitan Baptist Church at 7201 W. Britton Road, Oklahoma City, OK. There will be a reception at the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Epworth at Home Hospice, 14901 N. Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City, OK 73134 or Metropolitan Baptist Church Missions Fund, 7201 W. Britton Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73132.
