A visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. A private graveside service will be held at Seaton Cemetery.
Evelyn was born on March 10, 1938, in Taylor, Texas to Anton and Amelia Pokorny. She married Bernard Michael Gebala on May 9, 1957, and shared many years of marriage until his passing on March 8, 1994. Evelyn lived a full and vibrant life, residing in Pflugerville, Bay City, San Antonio, Temple, and Salem, Massachusetts. As the spouse of a United States Air Force serviceman, she experienced life at several duty stations including Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas; Tachikawa Air Base in Tokyo, Japan; Incirlik Air Base in Turkey; and Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
She was a longtime and devoted member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Temple. She was a member of the Texas Early Day Tractor and Engine Association and took part in many award-winning tractor shows and displays with her personal collection of antique tractors. She was a dedicated rancher, raising Black Angus cattle, and established a pecan grove and fruit orchard in Pendleton, Texas. She had a lifelong love of learning and completed several courses through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Evelyn was known for her many talents and wide-ranging interests. She found joy in gardening and fishing, and she was a remarkable cook, especially known for her traditional Czech recipes and her skills as an expert pit-master. Creative and meticulous, she enjoyed painting and took pride in her work as a detailed bookkeeper. She was an avid fan of golf and football and had a soft spot for rooting for the underdog. In her leisure time, she loved playing dominoes, where her skill was well known. Evelyn also enjoyed listening and dancing to polka music, traveling, and spending time at casinos, where she favored blackjack and slot machines. She was known for her attention to detail and took pride in always being neat, polished, and presentable.
Evelyn was devoted to her family. She was a strong, caring mother and grandmother who took immense pride in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her green eyes glistened as she watched them thrive and grow. She cherished time spent with loved ones and found joy in their accomplishments. Her giving spirit, faith, and love for others left a lasting impact on everyone who knew her.
Preceded in death by her husband; and sisters, Betty Lou Blaha and husband Raymond, and Antoinette Delancey.
She is survived by her daughters, Bernadette (Gebala) Hunter and husband Craig, Sr., and Michele (Gebala) Langford and husband Mark; sisters, Emily Saathoff and husband Harley, and Irene King and husband C.J.; her brother-in-law, Richard Delancey; her grandchildren, Craig Hunter, Jr. and wife Alaura, Jordan West and husband Chandler, and Madison Marwitz and husband James; great-grandchildren, Addison and Evelyn Hunter, Swayze and Hallie West, and Beckham and John B. Marwitz. Evelyn is also survived by many treasured nieces and nephews, as well as countless friends whom she loved wholeheartedly.
