Zella Evans

Zella Mae (nee Walker) Evans, 89, of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin and formerly of Winthrop Harbor, died on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at Brookside Nursing Home in Kenosha. Zella was born in and grew up around Carterville, Illinois, in far southern Illinois near Carbondale. She was married to Harry Evans Sr. at the young age of 17 years and they were married for 65 years thereafter. Following their marriage, Zella and Harry resided in Homewood, near Chicago, for several years and then moved to Kenosha for a brief period, and to Winthrop Harbor from 1941 to 2004. In the beginning years of their marriage, Harry owned an Indian motorcycle and Zella and Harry rode to Southern Illinois to visit her family. Being 1934, as there were no expressways, the trip took 11 hours each way. Zella was employed at Warwick in Zion from its opening in 1954 to the mid-1960's. from 1970 to 1988, she greeted and served everyone with a warm welcome when employed at Zion Cake Box Bakery. She was a 66 year member of the Winthrop Harbor United Methodist Church and in younger days was active in the Church choir. She was active with her sons in the Cub Scouts and was a Den Mother. She was also one of the founders of the Winthrop Harbor volunteer fire department auxillliary. When Zella married Harry, she had no idea how to cook, but her brother-in-law taught her. It didn't take her long to become an excellent cook. Zella was the absolute best baker and will always be remembered for her delicious "Congo Bars", pineapple upside down cake and other grand deserts. Zella loved gardening and her favorites were Irises and roses in the back yard and African Violets on the inside. In addition to gardening, Zella as mom, grandma, and great-grandma will always be remembered as a loving great-grandma who was always there with a hug. Hardy says he will miss having our coffee in the morning and our 9:00 p.m. wine with my Mom every night. Survivors include her children Sandra (Lawrence) Inglis of Antioch, Illinois, Hardy L. (Terry Dutton) Evans of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin and Harry C. (Marion Rose) Evans of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; grandchildren Dr. Andrew E. (Yadwiga) Inglis, Susan (Paul) Inglis Jero, Stacy Evans Zemanek, Darcy (Scott) Evans Holverson, Amy (Joseph) Evans Stanley, Kristin (Jay) Evans Staus and David C. Evans; sixteen great-grandchildren; and one sister Betty Walker Reynolds of Beach Park, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her husband Harry C. Evans Sr. in 2000; brother George W. Walker; sister Ruby Walker Evans; and her father and mother Hardy W. And Maude (nee Swan) Walker. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at the Winthrop Harbor United Methodist Church, 600 College Avenue, Winthrop Harbor. Visitation will be Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Appalachian Service Project, a youth ministry of both North Prairie and Winthrop Harbor United Methodist Churches, has been suggested. Checks may be made payable to ASP North Prairie UMC, and can be mailed in care of Winthrop Harbor United Methodist Church, 600 College Ave. Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096.