Evelyn Crane

Due on December 15, Evelyn pulled in a bit after 7 o'clock in the evening on December 30, 1923, at a tiny eleven pounds, born to Albert John and Carrie Crane. She had a rough start to life with her mom having appendicitis while pregnant with her and her older sister sharing all the bugs from school with her in her first nine years of life. She had her tonsils and appendix out by the age of nine and found she needed glasses to see properly in 5th grade. Once she was out of elementary school she had good health and a lot more fun. She was proud to be the last living person from her Herriman Elementary school class. She graduated from Jordan High in 1942. 

After high school she raised chickens and sold eggs and milk. She loved having “chores” or animals to care for her whole life. As she aged, sheep and cats were preferred over the dogs, chickens, cows and horses of her youth.  

Evelyn and her family did not have the means for her to attend college, but she continued to learn throughout her whole life. Her parents did give her the gift of books. Many books adorn her bookshelves that were treasured gifts from them. She frequently would start reading a book, then jump to the end to see if it worked out how she wanted and if it would be worth her time investment. She always had a newspaper subscription and tried to stay up to date with the events happening in the state, nation and world. Evelyn and Roberta were long time members of the  Ladies Literary Club of Herriman, a book club in operation to this day. 

Evelyn sang in a trio, accompanied by her sister, sending many missionaries or servicemen off, or welcoming them back home. She sang in her ward choir till around 80 years old. She loved music. She appreciated anyone willing to come practice or perform for her.

From April 1946 to November 1947, she served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the Canada mission. She served mainly in Toronto, Guelph and Ottawa, where she made lifelong friends. 

Upon returning home, Evelyn helped take care of her mom until her passing in May of 1948. After which, she worked at home, tending animals along with the garden and fruit trees, preserving food in various ways, and driving Roberta to Lark and Riverton to teach piano lessons. She was offered a job at Riverton Motor Company in 1955, which she took. She worked as a front office secretary and bookkeeper there, until January 1986. 

Evelyn was a lifelong member of the Herriman 1st Ward. She was very active in church and enjoyed serving in many different callings. She also served as a temple worker at Jordan River Temple from February 1991-January 2003.

Evelyn enjoyed attending Sons of Utah Pioneer events with her father and sister. After his passing and her retirement Evelyn became an active member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. She loved her pioneer heritage and the stories of Utah. She spent a lot of time tying quilts and doing embroidery work with her DUP friends and neighbors. A historian at heart, most evenings you would find Evelyn sitting at the table after supper recording the events of the day in her journal. She wrote diligently leaving many treasured volumes. She was almost always carrying her box or point and shoot camera.  She enjoyed documenting all the growth and events within Herriman, the surrounding cities, church activities  and family events. She helped with many historical publications on Herriman and family genealogy.

Evelyn loved her family. She will forever be quoted as saying “I may not have given birth to a child but I do have a family!” And a large one at that. She loved to tease, tell stories, play games and make memories with aunts, uncles, cousins and the “Bodell Girls” who she and Roberta claimed as their own. 

She is preceded in death by her mother, father, only sister, Roberta, two grandsons and three great grandsons. She is survived by the "Bodell girls,” and their spouses; Stephanie and Robert Johnson, Melodee and John Garvin, Maridean and Grant Mines, Lisa and Lynn Egbert; 17 of their children, 49 of their grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to her hospice team: Arla, Jen, Andrew, Dr. Scheidell, Grecthen, Rebecca, Emily and the rest of  IHC hospice for the amazing care they gave to Evelyn and her caregivers the last four years.  Special thanks goes to Lisa, Lynn, Kayci, and Marian for being the primary caregivers over the last eighteen and a half years. 

Evelyn loved green and asked that everyone wear their best green to remember her at her funeral. 

Funeral services will be held April 18, 2023 at 12:00 pm in the Fort Herriman Stake Center at 12737 South 6000 West, Herriman or online via Goff Mortuary Facebook live. A viewing will precede the funeral from 10:00 am to 11:45 am. Interment will be at the Herriman Cemetery.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Goff-Mortuary-116988261695382/