Eva La Rene was born in Holyoke, Colorado, to Percy and Carrie Blakesley on April 17, 1927. She married Archie Winfred Lytle on October 20, 1946. Together they raised three daughters, Gloria, Judy and Nancy. She worked as an administrative assistant for Denver Public Schools until she retired in 1994. A devout Christian, Eva was a member of Abundant Life Christian Church for over 20 years. She actively participated in the Women’s Ministry.
Eva was saddened and frightened when diagnosed with Alzheimer's, but she fought a hard and feisty battle. The disease couldn't touch her faith in Jesus, which remained strong. She carried her battered Bible everywhere, even when the words became impossible to read. That didn't matter; they’d long since been written in her heart, and they comforted her to the very, very end of her life.
As Eva’s memory loss accelerated, she grew frustrated by her lack of meaningful work. She was bored, not interested in made-up jobs, and felt useless. That changed for the better when she adopted three dolls. No one knew exactly where they’d come from.
To most people, Eva's “babies” were bedraggled, half-dressed toys. She recognized them as living children in need of care and, long after all other responsibilities had been taken away, she took on the important new role of guardian. She spent hours talking to her babies, feeding them, napping with them, arranging for babysitters when necessary, and even homeschooling them.
Eva’s desire to care for, love and support her babies reminded us of her foundational values, so integrated into her soul that they could not be shaken by the damage to her brain. Alzheimer's Disease took so much from her, but Eva always remained, at her core, the woman she'd always been: strong, responsible, hardworking, loving, and kind-hearted.
Daughter, sister, wife… mama, aunt, grandma… after nearly 92 years of life, God’s beloved child Eva grew quiet and quietly passed away, surrounded by family, at Elms Haven Care Center in Thornton, Colorado, on Sunday, January 13, 2019.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and three of her five siblings: Harold, Robert and Marjorie.
She is survived by her sister, Ruby Roll; her brother, Clarence Blakesley; her three daughters and the husbands who became true sons to her, Gloria (Jack) Rickard, Judy (Bill) Payne, Nancy (Tim) Rickard and her seven grandchildren, Karla (Mike) Harvey, Mark Payne, Steven Rickard, Tracey (Kent) Hups, David Rickard, Wayne (Naomi) Rickard and Sherri (John) Young.
Eva was the proud great-grandmother of Matthew (Amanda) Dodge, Jennifer (David) Deschaine, Jason Sanchez, Austin Harvey, Amber and Cara Hups, Sydney, Vincent and Lila Rickard, Lina Rickard, Aimee (Lance) Duncan, Hiroki Rickard and Remington Aalbers. She was blessed to see great-great grandchildren Elliana and Abigail Dodge and Lucie Deschaine.
Eva leaves behind a host of loving nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
We miss her greatly, but we celebrate a good life lived well, and rejoice in the end of her suffering.
Eva has joined her loved ones in heaven; she rests in Jesus’ arms.
Memorial donations may be made, in Eva's honor, to the Alzheimer's Association. The "Donations" link below, may be used for your convenience.
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