Evelyn "Evie" Marie Johnston

Of Jackson, Michigan, passed away on July 11, 2025, at the age of 95. Evie was born in Jackson on November 8, 1929, to parents Harold C. and Faith A. Gaylord. She married her husband of 65 years Raynor (Bill) Johnston on June 4, 1949. As a teenager, Evie worked at the Dome and then at Kellogg Corset Company in Jackson. She met Bill on a blind date with his brother Edgar and girlfriend Rosemary. After dating, Bill and Evie were married and lived in Rives Junction before moving to North Meridian Road where they remodeled an old house and raised 4 daughters. There were many get-togethers in that house over the years. Evie worked at Henrietta School in the kitchen and later at Northwest High School as a baker (lunch lady). She loved sewing and was a great seamstress, making many blankets for her grandbabies and great grandbabies. Evie also made many of her own clothes, including square dance dresses. She and Bill enjoyed square dancing, and danced for many years, making lifelong friends. Evie also loved baking, and her daughters joked that she had the best buns! Evie and Bill spent winters in Apache Junction, Arizona for many years and made many friends there. She had 9 grandchildren and spent a lot of time with them, which they cherished. She was very honored to have a great-great granddaughter named after her. Evie is survived by her children Susan (Dale) Brown, Carol (Mark) Barnhill, Sandy (Rick) Hartman, and Janice (Jack) Phelps; grandchildren Angie Allen, Kristy (Craig) Degenfelder, Cody Barnhill, Sarah Phelps, Dylan Barnhill, Dale (Casey) Brown, Autumn (Mike Mattis) Brown, Rachael (Justin) Copelin, Maggie (Justin) Brown; 18 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and fur baby Miss Snoop. She is preceded in death by her parents Harold C. And Faith A. Gaylord, husband Raynor (Bill) Johnston, siblings Delvan Gaylord and Margie Wollet, in-laws Edgar and Rosemary Johnston and Dorothy and Danny Milekich, Cal Wollet, niece Dana Gottschaldt, nephews Gary Johnston, Tom and Gary Wollet, Joshua Weage and grandson Elliott Phelps.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 1:00PM at Burden-Patience-Montgomery Funeral Home (1806 East Michigan Ave., Jackson) with a visitation from 11:00 AM until time of service. Evie will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband at East Rives Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cascades Humane Society (1515 Carmen Drive, Jackson, MI 49202) or Jackson Interfaith Shelter (414 S. Blackstone St., Jackson, MI 49201).