Evalyn Marie Herrity Phelps

Evalyn Marie Phelps, devoted Catholic, lifelong Democrat, and staunch Union supporter, entered eternal rest on the day of Our Lord, January 4, 2025.
In addition to her parents, Frank and Alice Herrity, and her sister Jean Cavaness, Evalyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband James F. Phelps, her cherished son, Dennis P. Phelps, and her youngest great grandchild, Maisie E. Adams.
Evalyn grew up in Washington D.C. as the middle child between sisters Jean and 'baby' Shirley. Her father encouraged her interest in outdoor activities, even as far as working on the family's car and she relished her youth as Daddy's 'Tomboy.' Evalyn had a lifelong belief in Jesus Christ, a belief she said formed when she was only 5 or 6 years old. She told us: "I ALWAYS knew that Jesus was looking out for me – so I was always going to look out for Him."
Evalyn married Jimmy Phelps, the love of her life, on April 23, 1949. Their marriage produced 7 children: six boys and one girl: Buddy [Paula], Dennis [Yong], Pat [Denise], Mary Claire [Tony], Mickey [Lowry], Chris [Lynn], and Tim [Veronica]. Evalyn's legacy lives on through her children, her 20 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and her 3 great-great grandchildren.
The people in Evalyn's life were diverse and numerous. Most everyone fortunate enough to have known Evalyn loved her dearly. Her Life was one of commitment - Commitment to Family, Church, Community and Country. Evalyn was a tireless supporter of many activities that unite a community and spent decades donating her time and effort on all these fronts. She volunteered for countless causes, including Southern Maryland Youth Organization, Democratic Central Committee, Board of Parks and Recreation, St. Joseph's Rectory office, St Joseph's Prayer Group, and the Center for Abused Persons. As a founding member and past president of SMYO, she was an integral part in bringing organized youth sports to Charles County.
Evalyn discovered her second family in the 1970's when she began working for Charles County Parks & Recreation. Many co-workers brought her immense joy by attending her 90th birthday celebration.
Evalyn was a fairly rugged and fearless individual. If she was interested in something, she found a way to personally experience it, even if that desire took decades to fulfill. She was an avid traveler whose religious beliefs led her to visit Medjugorje and Rome, and her love of the outdoors, animals and other cultures took her to Kenya, the Galapagos Islands, the Copper Canyon, the Arctic Circle, her ancestral home Ireland, and more.
Evalyn Phelps was the embodiment of action, motivated by great love.
Evalyn and her sisters have always been fiercely proud of their Irish heritage. So much so that for decades [at least once a year at some family event] they would, as a trio, sing a modified version of the Irish song "Harrigan" substituting their maiden name HERRITY. It was always humorous and done with a little dance.
So, please feel free to sing this little ditty sometime in tribute to the always "MARVELOUS" Evalyn Phelps.
H - E - double R - I - T - Y
spells HERRITY!
Proud of all the Irish blood that's in me
IN ME
Divil a man can say a word agin' me.
AGIN' ME
H - E- double R - I - T- Y
you see,
It's a name that a shame
never has been connected with,
HERRITY,
That's me!
Funeral Mass, 11am, January 17, 2025 St Joseph Church 4590 St Josephs Way, Pomfret, MD 20675
Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpJpCtTsRxYebrZyIY3Zlrg/live
Special thanks: The Phelps family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Kathy Swain Leighty for taking such great personal care of their mother during the last several years.
In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity or the Center for Abused Persons. www.centerforabusedpersonscharlescounty.org/