Evelyn Mary Martin Nicksic Lewis

Evelyn was born December 16, 1919, to Leo and Elizabeth Martin of Orleans, Nebraska, where she graduated from high school and left for the Yakima Valley in 1939. After surviving the Dust Bowl, Evelyn described getting off the train thinking this (Yakima) was the most beautiful place on earth and telling her mother and father that she would not return to Nebraska to live. Evelyn went to Yakima Business College and worked as a secretary for Ross Packing Company in Selah.

Evelyn married her first husband and the love of her life, Dan Nicksic in January 1941 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The very next day, Dan shipped out to Ft. Lewis, then the East Coast and then to France where he served in General Patton’s Army, earning a Purple Heart with clusters and the Silver Star with clusters. After his return, Dan and Evelyn lived happily together in Selah until Dan’s untimely death in 1961, at the age of 44.

Evelyn later married Francis Lewis and lived in Selah before moving to Yakima in 1977, where they lived happily together until Fran’s death in 1993. Evelyn and Fran loved to golf at the Elk’s golf course in Selah. Not only did Evelyn love to watch and play golf, she was also an avid sports fan and loved the Mariners, Seahawks, Huskies, and Zags.

Evelyn was a member of the Selah Jaycee Wives and the Altar Society of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She loved the Lawrence Welk Show and ice cream.

Evelyn loved being a mother above all else and took great pride in having a personal relationship with each of her four children: son, Terry Nicksic and his wife Chris of Port Orchard, second son, Rick Nicksic and his wife Cheryl LaFlamme of Parker, daughter, Karen (Nicksic) Larsen and her husband Jim of Bellevue, and youngest son David Nicksic and his wife Patricia of Everett. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren: Matt Nicksic, Katie and Kiley Larsen, Daniel Francis Nicksic, Davis Nicksic, Lauren Nicksic and Awbrey Greene, and one great grandson, Jaxon C. Greene.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Dan Nicksic and Francis Lewis, daughter-in-law Laurel Nicksic, and two sisters Dorothy Criswell, and Mickey Davey.

A vigil service will be at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, March 11, 2010, at Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 12, 2010, at Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.