Obituary: EVANS, MARIE

Marie Heaney EvansOctober 10, 1940 ~ May 10, 2013Marie Heaney Evans, 72, of West Valley City, Utah, died on Friday, May 10, 2013, after a 2 1/2-year battle with cancer. Marie was born in Finaghy, Northern Ireland, the fourth of seven children of Robert Henry Heaney and Sarah Anne Martin. Marie converted to the LDS faith as a teenager and served in the Alaskan/Canadian mission, where she first met her future husband, Rawlin A. Evans. Elder Thomas S. Monson interviewed her for her honorable mission release in 1964. When Rawlin and Marie met up again later, he was intrigued, and she fell in love quickly. They were sealed eternally in the Salt Lake temple on November 21, 1966.The couple had three children. Marie would chase teenage Rob around the house with a broom when he was naughty, and inevitably both would end up laughing. She described her only daughter, Annmarie, as having a heart of gold (she got it from her mother). Mark, the youngest, was always her baby. She would regularly give him long footrubs and cater to his food whims. Her children describe her as hard-working, selfless, and serviceoriented. Their friends have always felt right at home in Marie's kitchen.Marie was the kind of grandma her daughters-in-law aspire to be. She had a great love for each grandchild. She'd much rather chat with them about Barbies and basketball and go on their treasure hunts than discuss doctrine or current events with the adults. She would always go overboard on Christmas (we counted 19 presents each one year!). For more than 22 years, she hosted family dinners twice a month. She insisted on doing almost all of the food and dishes, because she was afraid one day she'd be too old and sickly, and the girls would have to take a turn. Once her hospice nurse announced she had about a week to live, she decided to take half a Tylenol and keep on supervising family dinners. She would entertain the grandkids with puppet shows as she lay sick in bed. She is irreplaceable, and our extended family will never be the same. Marie worked as the Personnel Supervisor for JC Penney for 17 years, but found her true calling as the Director of the Northwest and then Magna Senior Centers for a total of 13 years. Marie served in many callings in the LDS church, including Primary, R.S., and Y.W. presidencies. Marie enjoyed regular family visits to her native England and waking early to garden in her yard for hours. She regularly offered her home and yard for wedding receptions, firesides, and parties. She said the key to her happiness has been the gospel, her children, and her grandchildren. Marie is survived by her husband of 46 years, Rawlin A.; her children, Rob (Lorenne), Annmarie, and Mark (Cindy); her 11 grandchildren, Ashley (Josh), Clinton, Jordan, McKenzie, Mia, Getty, Cy, Cam, Abby, Soda, and Ni; three of her sisters; and other extended family. She is preceded in death by her parents; a sister; her two brothers; and her granddaughter Isabelle Marie Evans.Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 12:00 p.m. at the Hunter LDS Stake Center at 3737 S. 5600 W. West Valley City, Utah. Viewings will be held Monday, May 13, from 6:008:00 p.m. at the McDougal Funeral Home at 4330 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville, Utah, and Tuesday, May 14, at the Hunter LDS Stake Center from 10:0011:30 a.m. prior to funeral services. Interment following funeral at Camp Williams, 17800 S. Camp Williams Rd. (Redwood Rd).