Our beloved “Uni” died on 11 March 2024 at the age of 97. Eunice was born 1 Nov 1926, in Chicago Ill., the youngest of three children to Ernest Albert Nuoffer and Wilhelmina Emily Albrecht Nuoffer. Ernie was a traveling shoe salesman. They lived in Appleton Wis for about 5 years before moving to Lombard, Il. The family move to CA in 1940, and Eunice was in the first graduating class of El Cerrito High School in 1944. She graduated from College of the Pacific in 1948 with degrees in Music and Education. She became a traveling music teacher in Shasta County, traveling from logging camps and small schools-10 different schools a week. During the summers she lifeguarded at the pool in Redding.
Eunice married E. H. Toby Sears June 24, 1950 and moved to Bakersfield where she taught for Bakersfield City Schools at Washington Junior High for 4 years. Harvey Hall, former mayor of Bakersfield was her student. Elaine Dorrill Sears Gibbins was born in1954. Betty Marie Sears Miller was born in1956. During this time Eunice did some substitute teaching. In the early 60’s she began teaching music at Vineland Schools District, Sunset School, for 18 years.
Music was Eunice’s life. Her faith was very important and she served the church through her gift of music. She was choir director at Trinity Methodist Church for 3 years and First United Methodist for 20 years. She shared her gift at weddings and funerals. She was active in Mother Singers, a women’s chorus which she directed for several years, and a member of Sweet Adeline’s. She was a PTA Life Award recipient, Alpha Delta Kappa charter member (Bakersfield teacher’s sorority), and active in Freedoms Foundation.
Eunice had an additional career with Bakersfield Music Theater, as an office manager, musical director, and she appeared in 38 shows. Her most famous role was Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music which she performed for BMT 3 times plus 2 other organizations. Her dog, Coda, played Sandy in Annie at Stars.
She enjoyed traveling with friends and family and her beloved condo in Mammoth Lakes, where she and her girlfriends were faithful attendees of the jazz festival. She loved being part of the United Methodist Church choir.
Her proudest accomplishments were her daughters and granddaughters, her performances as Mother Abbess, and of course, singing.
She was proceeded in death by her daughter, Elaine Gibbins, her brother William Nuoffer, and her sister, Jeanne Kuentzel.
She is survived by her daughter Betty Miller (Tom) of Ridgecrest, granddaughters Emily Miller (Los Angeles), Allison Gibbins (Monterey), numerous nephews and nieces, grand nephews and nieces and great grand nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to your favorite charity. Some of Eunice’s were the UCSF Pancreatic Cancer Research, the Mammoth Lakes Foundation, the Kern Community Foundation Music Scholarship Eunice Sears Scholarship For Music, the First United Methodist Church.
