Neva Patricia Feakins Evans

Neva Patricia Feakins Evans, the child of Charles and Margaret Feakins, was born on December 25th 1923 in Plainfield, Illinois, weighing only 3 pounds. Named after her aunt, she was the youngest of three children.

She grew up in the rural Frontenac region of Aurora Illinois; the family lived in a home on the same property where her father operated the Frontenac grain elevator. She used to help her father weigh the loads that the farmers brought in.

Neva attended Granger and Our Lady of Good Counsel grade schools and an all-girls boarding high school, Sacred Heart Academy in Lisle Illinois. She played the viola in the school symphony, was the baseball team Captain her junior year and the staff librarian her senior year. She continued in contact and friendship with her school friend, Elsie Gonda.The bios published on seniors for the school newspaper in 1941 stated:

“Red hair, her asset – blushing, her liability – baseball, her hobby – true friend in time of need – a silent thinker, that’s our thoughtful Neva.”

After high school she contracted polio and spent time in an iron lung, first of its kind. Following her recovery from polio she attended the Chicago College of Laboratory Technique, graduating as a laboratory technician in 1945 at the age of 21.

Physicians advised that moving to a milder climate would help her recovery from polio so she moved out to Portland, Oregon staying with friends who previously came from Illinois to work in the shipyards. Eventually she found office work and stayed in Portland.

She was a devoted Catholic and met a fellow parishioner, John J. Evans, whom she married in 1949. They had three children, Charles in 1954, Mara (Patricia) in 1957 and Colleen in 1961. They separated in 1962. The separation was devastating to the family and Neva’s faith. With the support of family and friends she was a single mother raising three children during an era where this was not common. She provided a catholic education for her three children.

She worked in accounting for Zidell’s from 1965 to 1986. After retirement she did some temp work and volunteered at her parish Ascension Catholic Church. Neva loved her three grandchildren deeply, Josh Evans, Madeline Crace and Cody Crace. She enjoyed baking for friends and family as well as swimming at the Providence therapy pool. Neva never passed up an opportunity to go shopping with her friends. She was able to do some traveling with her dear friend Teresa Ann Cowlthorpe on an Alaskan cruise, to Victoria Canada and to Reno and Las Vegas. Over the years Neva was close to her other faithful friends Margaret Ryley and Betty Shiffer.

Neva had encountered problems with her back, having a laminectomy in 2006. Besides the degenerative joint disease, she enjoyed good health until she displayed symptoms of vascular dementia. As anyone who has dealt with dementia knows, it sadly robs the person of logic and reasoning. We will miss her terribly but we are relieved to know she is no longer suffering mentally and physically as she has over the last couple of years.

Neva passed away on November 23rd, 2011 at the age of 87. Her parents and brothers Milton Feakins and Pierre Feakins preceded her in death.

In loving memory of Neva, mother, grandmother and friend, you will always live in our hearts and memories.

In Lieu of flowers please honor Neva by making a donation to PawsToFreedom.org or your favorite charity.

Arrangements under the direction of Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes, Portland, OR.