Alice Evelyn Upton

Alice Evelyn Upton, better known as Evelyn, Weiser ID was born in Los Angeles CA on April 19 1917; she was 104 years old at the time of her death July 7 2021. Evelyn spent her early years on the family dairy until her adventuresome father went on a cattle-buying trip to Salinas CA and found a slaughterhouse for sale. The family which by then included five sons and two daughters moved to Salinas where an 6th son was born. Evelyn was the third in line and oldest daughter, she went through school in Salinas, graduating from Salinas High in 1935. She married Carnell Upton in 1937 and their only child, Bette Jo (Joey) was born in 1939. Evelyn and Carnell were married 75 years until his passing in 2005. Ranching was their passion and when the right time arrived, they purchased a ranch west of Weiser and moved to Idaho with their daughter and son in law, Jim and Joey Mills. Evelyn had two much loved grandchildren: Joya Hill (Gary) and Jon Mills (Serena). That family grew to include three Great Grandchildren: Jamie Hill, Joe Mills (Olivia) and McKayla Mills. Then to Evelyn’s delight Joe and Olivia presented her with a Great, Great Grandson Fred Mills. In 104 years, she had achieved five generations. Evelyn had another passion and that was children and in her later years she volunteered many hours helping at Pioneer School helping second grade teacher Joya Hill by reading to and listening to second graders read. She also helped Serena Mills third grade class sharpen their reading skills. These hours made a big difference in her life as well as the youth she was privileged to know. Evelyn was born in one pandemic and left this world in another, along the way she witnessed many “firsts” in life. She lived the years granted to her with a smile and a plate of cookies, she was a wonderful seamstress and excellent cook and leaves a legacy of laughter, hospitality and love. Her life will be celebrated with a memorial at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Ontario Oregon on Saturday July 24th at 1:00, with refreshments following. Please no fresh flowers. Arrangements under the direction of Thomason Funeral Home.