Shirley Ann Evans

Shirley Ann Evans, 88, died peacefully at home Saturday, January 18, 2025, in Moses Lake, Washington, where she was living with her son Scott Evans and his wife Dawn.

Born March 13, 1936, in Snoqualmie, Washington, to Amil and Viola Spence, Shirley shared fond memories of her young life there with siblings and cousins before her father died suddenly in 1944. After two subsequent years in the Seattle area, she, her mom and sister Carolyn joined brother Malcolm at Mooseheart residential school in Illinois. At Mooseheart, Shirley excelled in music and was favored by the band director for her ability and willingness to play any instrument needed. She graduated with honors and moved back to Washington to attend University of Washington on a music scholarship. After many years of institutional schooling, college life did not resonate with her she said, and although she did not end with a degree, she became a lifelong Husky, with season tickets and much general Husky pride throughout her life.

She lived for more than 50 years on Lea Hill in Auburn where she raised a family with her late husband Gary Evans. She retired from the Department of Social and Health Services, served mostly in the Federal Way office. Her married life was filled with clamming, crabbing, fishing, gardening, canning, family gatherings and many spectator sports, never without a book or the Sunday Times crossword puzzle. With the death of her husband in 2014, most of that ended for Shirley except her enthusiasm for intellectual stimulation, family and sports. She watched any local team in any sport but especially loved the Huskies, Mariners and Gonzaga.

Into her 80's, she completed the weekly Sunday crossword and brought so many books from the library sometimes she laughed after getting partly through a novel before realizing she had read it before. She will be remembered for love of game and her pies. She was an excellent cook in general but could turn any fruit into a delicious flaky-crusted pie. But if you came to a family gathering to enjoy the seafood lasagna and pie, you were expected to play the card games that followed and lasted hours.

Shirley loved her family and knew birthdays by heart of everyone including spouses, grandchildren and even some of the great-grandchildren.

She is survived by sister Carolyn McCulloch of Anacortes; daughter Catherine Wolf of Seattle; daughter Linda Seilinger and husband Jeff of Buckeye, Arizona; son Scott Evans and wife Dawn of Moses Lake; daughter Shauna Thompson of Machipongo, Virginia; grandchildren Gerard Warren, Corina Kernan, Blake Evans, Clayton Evans, Clara Rodarte, Eric Hagquist, Lindsey Hagerty, Lauren Seilinger, Jack Thompson, Emma Warren; 26 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held western Washington, spring 2025. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Mooseheart operating funds in honor of Shirley Spence, graduating class 1954.

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