Evelyn Bertie Skriba

Between my God and me.

I cannot choose the colors

He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;

And I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper

And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly

Will God unroll the canvas

And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the weaver’s skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;

Nothing this truth can dim.

He gives the very best to those

Who leave the choice to Him.

- Anonymous

God chose Bert and Mattie Dessieree Holley to be parents, and on September 1st, 1925 in Easley, S.C., Bertie Evelyn Holley was born. Her “tow” head was a definite sign of belonging to the Holley family and her daddy often called his eldest child and his namesake “cotton top”.

Her daddy worked at a gas station and every day he would walk her across the street to school. Her family was poor and sometimes kids painfully teased her about her clothes. These moments were overshadowed by the love of her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members, shown through her momma's praises for the good job she did sweeping the floor, her daddy’s singing with them, her grandpa’s sweet words and fondly rubbing his unshaved face on her cheek, her granny’s “hiding her” under the staircase till the other family members went home so Granny could take her home overnight, Grandpa’s watermelons, Uncle Bo’s chocolate Easter bunnies, Aunt Sally’s combing of her hair. Playing in the creek. Granny’s biscuits every morning. Milking the cow. Grandpa never speaking a bad word. Memories that were cemented early in her mind.

The gold and silver threads of her young life were abruptly intertwined with dark threads of sorrow. At the age of seven, Evelyn along with her two younger sisters, became orphans. Lovingly, Granny and Grandpa Holley brought them into their home and raised them. The three Holley sisters (Evelyn, Angie, and Dot) would wash dishes at the kitchen sink and the songs they sang would drift out the kitchen window and bring the neighbors to the front porch to enjoy the "concert" with Granny and Grandpa as they rocked and rested. They gave a great performance with Evelyn as the "lead soprano."

The early death of her parents inspired Evelyn to become a nurse. She entered Greenville Hospital School of Nursing following high school. She would have finished except for a proposal from a captivating Army/Air Force lieutenant from Chicago.. So in 1945, Grandpa Holley gave Evelyn’s hand to Stephen J. Skriba, Jr. to love and cherish till death they did part, which was to be 60 years.

Chicago became Evelyn’s home. She enjoyed time with her new mother-in-law shopping in the bargain basement at Marshall Fields, riding the “L”, learning the art of Slovak cooking including dumplings, being a favorite dance partner of her father-in-law and acquiring the “Yankee” drawl. Evelyn adjusted to the bitter cold and snow of the North and the tears of home sickness. She raised her four children, made life-long friends, and completed her nursing degree. The church, V.F.W., a square dancing club, and a bowling league were enjoyed by both Evelyn and Steve.

Evelyn was devoted to serving her family. She was a meticulous housekeeper, an outstanding cook and a thoughtful homemaker. But Evelyn loved to be a nurse! Her caring way, professional presence and charisma earned her accolades from her patients and the physicians and colleagues at the hospitals and OB/GYN groups where she worked.

It was the plan to return to South Carolina when Evelyn and Steve retired. So in 1983 they moved to Easley where they enjoyed a Questers collecting club, traveling, and their grandchildren. Evelyn continued to work in the Easley Baptist Hospital nursery until she was 75 years old. She then dedicated herself to caring for our dad, singing in the church choir, and volunteering at the local hospital near her daughter Susan and her husband in Monroe, N.C. In 2010, Evelyn moved into her daughter Pat’s home in West Chicago, Ill., where they enjoyed being together, listening to music, watching movies (she loved Gifted Hands – the story of Dr. Ben Carson’s life), singing along with old Lawrence Welk shows and enjoying the beauty of nature while sitting on the back porch swing. She loved being read to and she took the lead giving direction on what needed to be done around the house or yard!

Evelyn’s faith continued to grow in her final years. She would call out to God for help or praise spontaneously, always eager to pray when asked, sing, and a few days before her death she declared that she was ready to go to heaven.

A virtuous woman will be praised. Steve’s sweetheart and beautiful wife. Our Mom. Grandma Eve. Aunt Evelyn. My dear sister. My caring nurse. My friend. Evelyn’s husband, four children, ten grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, healthcare colleagues, and friends did praise her. She loved to give – loved to serve – loved to do things “the right way." She loved to live.

We will miss her terribly.

** In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Baptist Easley Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 1988, Easley, SC 29641. Please annotate on donation: for SKRIBA MEMORIAL – WOMENS/CHILDRENS HOSPITAL

Arrangements under the direction of Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Greenville, SC.