Evelyn was born as Lily Evelyn Jack, first of seven children to Lloyd and Ida Jack in Wimborne, Alberta.
Evelyn moved to Trochu, which had the closest high school, graduating Grade 12 at 17 years old. Housekeeping, babysitting and working in restaurants paid for her room and board while in school. Upon graduation, Evelyn supervised at a nearby rural school, until she married Roy on October 26, 1951. Dale was born September 23, 1952.
Roy graduated from auctioneering school on March 24, 1954, and later that spring, Roy, Evelyn and Dale moved to Spirit River and then to their homestead in Happy Valley. While helping develop the homestead, Evelyn helped clerk at Roy’s auction sales.
Evelyn was a self-taught musician, learning to play the accordion first and other keyboard instruments later. She found string instruments difficult only because of a deformed finger caused by a childhood accident.
During this time period, Evelyn supervised for two winters at the Wonderland School, living in the teacherage with the boys.
Ron was born on February 28, 1956. Murray was born on May 6, 1961.
Roy and Evelyn bought the Rycroft Auction Mart in 1965, sold the homestead and moved to an acreage west of Rycroft. Neil was born on July 2, 1966.
The auction business grew and evolved into a farm equipment dealership. Evelyn took on an administrative role in the business; she was a very good bookkeeper, again self-taught. Evelyn and Roy received many holiday travel incentives from equipment vendors and were able to travel to various ports of call. To help supplement the family income, Evelyn worked part time of a period at the Dutch Treat Drive-Inn, later becoming a successful licensed realtor. She was always very excited to sell properties to and welcome people moving into the area.
As a Notary Public or Commissioner of Oaths, Evelyn helped many in completing assorted government documentation.
A very sad event occurred in the summer of 1967. Roy and Evelyn had four house guests when their house caught fire, and two of their friends perished.
They built the Cross Roads Motel in 1979 and sold it in 1990, while continuing to ranch west of Spirit River. They sold the farm equipment dealership in 1980.
Three of Evelyn’s sons also became auctioneers, continuing the family business for 50 years. Last sale was in 2004.
Evelyn enjoyed a happy and eventful retirement with a love of her life Dave (affectionately known by some as Daddy Dave) and his family, probably wearing out three RV units. Her retirement also gave her more time to produce watercolours, one of her favorite past times, many of which have places of honour in our homes. She was a very intelligent and determined person to the point of being what some may view as stubborn. Evelyn was not going to be forced off Dave’s farm or separated from him as she aged.
Evelyn is survived by her loving partner of 25 years, Dave Clarke; her sons, Dale (Maxine); Ron; Murray (Deby); and Neil (Cindy); and three stepchildren, Dwaine (Veronica); Rhonda; and Brenda (Warren Wendt). She was grandmother to 14 and great-grandmother to another 14. She is survived by her siblings, Georgina Strueby; Bruce Jack; Grant Jack; and Lois Monteith.
Evelyn was predeceased by her parents, Lloyd and Ida Jack; her husband of 45 years, Roy; sister Doreen (and Glen) Sullivan; brother Glen (and Carol) Jack; brothers-in-law, Evan Monteith and Don Strueby; sisters-in-law, Loraine and Peggy Jack; and daughter-in-law Marlene.