November 23, 1953 – November 12, 2022
Written by Aimee Evans Hickman
Our beloved and feisty mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, Evelyn Kay Whitcomb Harvill, passed away at age 68 on Saturday, November 12, 2022, in Elwood, Ind., after a sudden cardiac event.
Evelyn was born on November 23, 1953, in Wichita Falls, Texas. While her childhood was filled with many hardships, her resilient spirit and brilliant mind were nurtured by her voracious appetite for reading and her love of music, which buoyed her up throughout her life. Evelyn attended Littleton Senior High School, in Littleton, Mass., and was a member of the National Honor Society. Throughout Eveyln’s career she has been described by her co-workers and managers as an essential part of their success and an extremely hard worker. Evelyn enjoyed her work and spent the last decade with Cognia, Inc. in Dover, N.H., where her supervisor, Jen Carton, became a dear family friend.
At a pivotal moment in her young adulthood, Evelyn chose to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her abiding testimony in the mercy and empathy of Jesus Christ and unwavering love for and from her Heavenly Parents gave Evelyn the ability to share her beliefs with others with pure intent, helping them feel that they too were unconditionally loved. In addition to her steadfast testimony, Evelyn contributed to her church congregations over the decades by serving as chorister and asking thought-provoking questions that deepened her fellow worshipers’ understanding of the intimate relationship, we can make with a God who doesn’t orchestrate life’s tragedies but instead loves and comforts us through them.
Evelyn’s church connections led her to a community of soul sisters in Exponent II. She volunteered for many years as a board member for the organization and layout editor for its magazine and was a central presence at the annual retreat where her love of music and dance coalesced into her supergroup of “The Heavenly Bodies.” She was deeply loved by this sisterhood who will be forever grateful for the gift of trust she gave so many friends there.
But of all her life’s work, Evelyn’s deepest joy was in the relationships she created with her children and grandchildren, who filled her life with laughter, purpose, and unabashed delight. Her commitment to these relationships was so sincere that after spending most of her life in New England, Evelyn chose to move to Elwood, Ind., in 2021, so that she could be closer to her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren to continue watching them grow into the wonderful people they are still becoming.
Evelyn is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, David Harvill and Stephanie Schanda; daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and David Gray; grandchildren, Cardon, Maggie, “Hope” Charlotte, and David-Benjamin Gray; mother, Rita May Duncan Wicks; sisters, Peggy Lapin, Felicia Rai, Leslie Whitcomb, Brenda Merrill, and Juanita Hammond; brother, Oliver Adams Whitcomb III; aunt, Barbara Whitcomb; and a large extended family and wonderful friends.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her “Grammy” and “Pa,” Margaret and Oliver Adams Whitcomb Sr.; “Nana,” Thora Otterson Mekkelsen Eager; brothers, Chris Whitcomb and Jimmy Lewis Waters, Jr.; uncle, Henry Whitcomb; cousins, Bryan Whitcomb and Tim Lapin; and brother-in-law, Marc Lapin.
Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 21, 2022, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 11257 Temple Drive, Carmel.
A Memorial and interment for family and friends will take place later in New England with details forthcoming.
Flowers in honor of Evelyn may be sent to the chapel address listed above.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Prevail, Inc. crisis intervention and restorative support services of Noblesville at prevailinc.com/index.php/general-donations.
If you really want to celebrate her vivid life, turn up your favorite song, close your eyes, and dance like nobody’s watching. We know she is!
Arrangements entrusted to Bussell Family Funerals.
Condolences: bussellfamilyfunerals.com