Vera Evans

Vera Evans
POCATELLO - Vera May Criddle Burrup Evans passed away July 28, 2010, at the Highland Hills Assisted Living Center in Pocatello, where she has lived since April 2009. Born in Downey, Idaho, on July 13, 1920, Vera was the first daughter and third child born to Lorin and Mabel Van Leuven Criddle. She celebrated her 90th birthday two weeks before passing.
After graduating from Downey High School in 1938, Vera attended Stevens Henager Business College in Salt Lake City, where she earned an associate's degree in secretarial skills including bookkeeping, shorthand, typing.
Employment included work as a comptometer operator in the Salt Lake County Courthouse; as a secretary for Graves and Potter, lithography printers in Pocatello; as a bookkeeper for the Downey Grain Growers and later J.C. Penney's in Downey; as city clerk for the City of Downey; as bookkeeper for Blacker's Appliance and Furniture Store in Caldwell Idaho, and Chad's Furniture in Pocatello. Vera retired after working 10 years employment as the director of the LDS Distribution Center in Pocatello in 1980.
Vera married Holt Burrup in 1943, in Ephrata, Washington, where Holt was stationed and in training with the Army Air Corps. They had the marriage sealed in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple in October 1962. They were married for 32 years until Holt's on death October 15, 1975. Vera married Paul Rex Evans in August 1979. They were married 19 years until Rex's death July 30, 1998.
Holt and Vera had five children, Crystal (Doug) Young of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Hall (deceased, Connie), Lyle (Necia) of Sandy, Utah, Lois Brown of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Karma (John) Merzlock of Pocatello, Idaho. She has 33 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren with three more on the way.
Vera is survived by her sister, Lula Elber of Spokane, Washington; four of her five children, 31 of 33 grandchildren, and all 56 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by Holt Burrup and her second husband, Rex Paul Evans, her son, Hall Burrup, her three brothers, TY, Howard and Jesse Criddle; and two grandchildren, Brant Merzlock and Andria Burrup.
Vera was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and has been a member of the El Rancho Ward, where she has lived since December 1968. Through her adult life she held many callings working with young women, adults, and in music positions.
Vera loved music from childhood, and was a talented musician, vocalist, and choral conductor. From 1945 to 1958, she conducted the Downey Madrigal Choir from Downey, Idaho. She led many LDS ward choirs. She played the piano and organ, violin in high school, and had a beautiful alto voice. She developed beautiful penmanship while at Henegar Business College.
She enjoyed quilting, knitting, crocheting, and sewing clothes for her children and grandchildren; visiting nature sites, and painting scenes of nature; playing the organ, studying music, directing choral groups and musical productions, and developing her children's and grand children's musical talents; surfing Internet, e-mailing friends and family; journaling; serving family, neighbors and friends; and visiting children, grandchildren, and high school friends. She is admired and loved by all who knew her.
A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday evening, August 1, 2010, in the Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 South Fourth Ave., Pocatello, Idaho, and on Monday, August 2 from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the LDS El Rancho Ward chapel, 300 E. Chapel Road, Pocatello. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday. Interment will occur in the Downey Cemetery at 3:15 p.m. following the services.