Evelyn Marie Bauman

Evelyn Marie Watkins Bauman entered this world on October 10, 1918 and went to be with her Lord, whom she served faithfully, March 1, 2018, in Irving, Texas where she had lived for the past 3 years. Active in First United Methodist Church of Odessa, United Methodist Women, and in the New Mexico Conference of the United Methodist Church, she taught children’s Sunday School classes and taught leaders how to teach children through laboratory schools, led prayer groups and a host of other activities throughout the church and community.

Evelyn assisted Girl’s Club of Odessa and participated as a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of Women and Children’s Hospital in Odessa. She was instrumental in backing the Midland-Odessa Symphony Orchestra and served as First Lady of Odessa in 1986. And in 2004 Evelyn Bauman was named a Living Archive for the New Mexico Annual Conference.

Mrs. Bauman kept up this busy schedule while rearing four children and managing various dogs and cats while still caring for her loving husband, John Ezra Bauman, M.D.

Evelyn Watkins was born in Los Angeles, CA, to Sarah Ralston Watkins Miller and Robert (Evans) Watkins and moved to Denver, CO, at the age of ten to live with an aunt, Ella Syfers Schenck. She graduated from the University of Denver. As a young adult she taught school and met her husband on a retreat at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO. They were married in Denver on March 21, 1942, moving to Temple, Texas where her husband did his residency at Scott & White Hospital. They stayed in Texas moving to Odessa in 1948.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. John E. Bauman. She is survived by sons, Richard Bauman of Sealy, TX, and Dale Bauman of Bossier City, LA; daughters, Janet Read of Lufkin, TX., and Sheryll Bunt of Irving, TX.; seven grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Odessa on Saturday, March 10th at 1:00 pm with graveside services following a short reception after the Memorial Service for sharing. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Odessa, the First United Methodist Church of Irving, or the philanthropy of your choice.