Evelyn Nicholson Houstoun Chew

Evelyn Nicholson Houstoun Chew died peacefully on the 18th of March, 2016. A loving wife, mother of three, grandmother of eight, great-grandmother of seven, and friend of many, she lived a full and blessed life. Most of all, she will be remembered for her love of family and friends.

Evelyn was born in Houston on the 12th of June, 1924, to Wilbur Fenner (“Rock”) Nicholson and Evelyn Frederick Nicholson. She loved Houston and took great pride in the fact that she was a native of the city and she spent her entire life here. She attended and graduated from Lanier Junior High School, Lamar High School and Rice Institute (now Rice University). Her humility and her sense of humor were both evident whenever she mentioned her time at Rice, as she would invariably add, “It was so much easier to get into back then!”

In dancing class in elementary school, she met the love of her life, James Patrick (“Pat”) Houstoun, Jr. They married on the 27th of March, 1946, and shared a wonderful life together raising three children while surrounded by lifelong friends. Evelyn was very fond of telling people that Pat always treated her like a princess. She was truly devastated in 1976 when their marriage was cut short by Pat’s untimely death.

Then 20 years later, she once again married, finding happiness with Captain Robert S. (“Bob”) Chew, Jr., and enjoying 10 years of life and travel together until Bob’s death in 2005. She often said that she had been blessed by being married to two wonderful men.

Throughout her life, Evelyn involved herself in numerous social and charitable endeavors. A member of The Assembly, The Junior League of Houston, River Oaks Garden Club and The Blue Bird Circle, she was also an early docent at Bayou Bend and an avid supporter of Holly Hall. She and Pat were members of numerous clubs, including the Houston Country Club, and attended St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Their true love was spending time at their beloved Cedar Creek Farm near Round Top.

Evelyn is predeceased by her parents and by her two husbands. She is survived by her children, Pat Houstoun and wife Bernice, Rock Houstoun and wife Tricia, and Sara (“Sally”) Houstoun Evoy and husband Larry of King City, Ontario, Canada; grandchildren Sara Houstoun Loperena and husband Gabriel, Patrick Houstoun, Will Houstoun and wife Jennifer, Katherine Houstoun Schutt and husband Marshall of Richmond, Virginia, Martha Anne (“Marfy”) Houstoun, Sallie Houstoun, Spencer Evoy, and Cooper Evoy; and great-grandchildren Kolbie Houstoun, Gabriel and Nina Loperena, Finley and Rock Houstoun, and Evelyn (“Evie”) and Sawyer Schutt.

The family would like to express their unending gratitude to Abby Eckford, Evelyn’s devoted companion these last 10 years. And also to the attentive and caring staffs of Holly Hall and Seasons Hospice.

At the family’s request, Evelyn’s funeral and inurnment will be reserved for the family.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 1st of April, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that donations in Evelyn’s honor be sent to Holly Hall, 2000 Holly Hall Street, Houston, Texas 77054, or to the charity of their choice.