Evaune Winsor

Evaune Gale Winsor passed away peacefully in Gilbert Arizona, surrounded by her daughters on December 13, 2021. Evaune was 85 years old at the time of her passing. Born in Vernal, Uintah County Utah on May 27, 1936, she was the ninth of 12 children born to Irene Merrell and Luther Gale. She is survived by nine of her 10 children and spouses who call her mother, 87 grandchildren, 95 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She fervently lived and dearly loved her faith.

Evaune’s formative years were during World War II. Evaune was the social butterfly of her neighborhood. She loved school and spoke fondly of her second grade teacher, Ms. Brown. She spoke of placing nickels and dimes in the War Effort jar on the desk of her teacher. She remembers the escape ditches surrounding the playground where they would run to during drills. She spoke of victory gardens, rationing and the sadness when someone’s father or brother was killed in the war. She told how the flour sack was so precious for their family. Not only was the flour to be protected, but the sack was to be used for many purposes. In these early years, Evaune formed her paradigm of work, service, family, community and her love for the Savior Jesus Christ. In her early years of life – not too long after the Great Depression – hard work was expected of everyone. She learned at the foot of her own mother and grandmother to cook, clean, mend clothing, quilt, garden and the value of turning a seemingly useless piece of fabric into a beautiful creation. Evaune was married at the age of 19 to Robert Lewis Trout who became an army pilot. From her little community home in Moses Lake Washington, she traveled to army bases throughout the United States and spent two years in Japan. On one occasion she took her little brood of children and drove across country from Alabama to Provo Utah to be with her parents. She was strong and fearless for her little family.

Evaune married Robert Carl Winsor in 1967. She grew to be the strong matriarch of her home. She was the proud mother of ten children – Kaylin, Kathy, Brian, Mark, Renae, Kerry (deceased), Rick, Annette, Irene and Millie. Her extended children and grandchildren are far beyond numbering as, much like her own daughters, she was mother to all. As the matriarch of her home, she delighted in homemaking. She valued homemade family meals at the table – dinner and breakfast – reading the scriptures together, community service, and lots of good hard work. She was heard to say, “if one is working, we are all working” and to her sons “I’m not raising boys, I’m raising men.” It was common for her home to be filled with hosts of neighborhood children who thought of her as the “other mother”. She valued education and encouraged her children academically to the best of her ability. Evaune filled her home with music, which is very much a part of her soul. She accompanied most of her homemaking responsibilities with cheerful whistling and “doodleedoo” humming. Singing with her children brought her joy. They sang as they played, as they traveled, as they worked and worshipped. Lullabies to her children and grandchildren were a beautiful part of her nurturing, and it was a privilege for her children to sing to her as she passed from this life.

In a life of great adversity and tragedy, she found safety and solace in her knowledge and love for her Brother and Savior Jesus Christ. She loved her brother Bruce most of all and likened him to her feelings for her Brother Jesus. She found comfort in knowing that she has a loving and knowing Father in Heaven – she yearned to be with Him. Her most common phrase was, “Father knows.” She was a powerful example of simple beauty refined in a spiritual life of virtue.

Evaune did not hold high religious or political office, she didn’t earn college degrees, own businesses, hold property, investments or even bank accounts. And yet, her influence spans the world. Thousands have felt her impact - school children and families, felons in prison systems, displaced children and youth, families seeking financial and legal counsel, those seeking spiritual healing, and individuals receiving a simple smile, kind word and loving embrace. She left this world with simple tears of joy, for her family left behind, and the welcome to her heavenly home. We love you, mom.

A visitation for Evaune will be held Friday, December 17, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care, 400 South Power Road, Mesa, AZ 85206. A visitation will occur Saturday, December 18, 2021 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 3301 S. Greenfield Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85297. A funeral service will occur Saturday, December 18, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 3301 S. Greenfield Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85297.