Evelyne Sarah Dell (Yost) Smallwood passed away on Aug. 19, 2009 in Truckee, Calif., at the age of 97.
Evelyne was born on Dec. 4, 1911, in Minneapolis. She was taken in as a foster child to Louis J. and Amelia (Schmidt) Yost and was legally adopted by Amelia Yost in 1961. Evelyne was baptized on Aug. 29, 1913, at Concordia Bear Lake Lutheran Church in Twin Lakes; was confirmed there in 1925; and was married there on May 15, 1930, to Karl Hermann Eichler. Evelyne moved from the Albert Lea area to Waverly, Iowa, and in 1967 moved to San Jose, Calif. She married Dominque “Don” Smallwood on Oct. 14, 1978. She moved to Truckee, Calif., in June 1995.
Evelyne was an avid bowler for 36 years; volunteered at Santa Teresa Hospital (San Jose), Tahoe Forest Hospital, and Tahoe Donner Senior Meals Program (Truckee); named Volunteer of the Year by Nevada County in 1998; active in church and choir; enjoyed flowers, knitting, and crocheting; and was well known as the Avon lady since 1950.
Evelyne was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; her daughter, LaMone (Eichler) Williams; and her son, Gordon Eichler.
Evelyne is survived by her son, Gary Eichler (Stephanie) of Lewis Center, Ohio; her daughter Sharine Drake (Bob) of Sparks, Nev.; her daughter, Valerie Eichler Lair, of Thornton, Colo.; her grandchildren Jacque Diercks, Jayne Devlin (Sam), Doug Diercks, Dwayne Eichler, Kenneth Eichler (Janelle), Lisa Eichler, Michelle Alfaro Hewett, Jeff Eichler (Colleen), Jerry Eichler, Chris Eichler, Deana Mason (Tom), Glenn Davis (Ann-Marie), Greg Davis (Diana), Gardner Davis (Janelle), and T.J. Lair; her great-grandchildren Jennifer Cordova (Jerry), Cass Whitmire (Cliff), Michelle Diercks, Miranda Eichler, Krystal Eichler Kinney, Jessica Smith (Kevin), Kenneth Eichler Jr. (Linda), Amber Hamel (Terrance), Ashley Alfaro, Dustin Alfaro, Parker Eichler, C.J. Eichler, Jacob Eichler, Taylor Mason, Ryan Mason, James Weinbrandt, Ashley Davis, Glenn Davis Jr., Danielle Davis, Derek Davis, and Daniel Askins; and her great-great grandchildren Anissa and Dominic Cordova, Michael and Tamree and Brittney Whitmire, Karrick Kinney, Jordan Smith, Kenneth Eichler III, Ladena Eichler, Devon Hamel, Zaithran Weinbrandt, and Jaydon Davis.
Evelyne will be interred at the San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio of San Francisco, Calif. The memorial service will be held at the end of September in Truckee, Calif. Evelyne requested that memorials be made in her name to the Truckee Lutheran Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 10620, Truckee, CA, 96162 or to a charity of your choice.