Evelyn Le Nora Harding Brumback
March 30, 1916 — June 15, 2016
Our beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother, Evelyn Brumback, peacefully departed to join her husband, son and seven siblings.
She was the fourth of eight children born to John and Katherine Harding of Walla Walla, Wash.
Before Evelyn’s retirement at age 50, she was employed as a dental assistant in Walla Walla and later a pharmacist’s mate in Spokane.
Evelyn’s journey to Whidbey Island began many generations ago. The Hartungs Family records, dated as early as the 1735s, recall the miseries that created the exodus of so many “Volga Germans” (Russians near the German border) to America. Subsequent relatives followed to the Walla Walla area of Washington and other nearby states. A family reunion was held several years ago at the fairgrounds in Walla Walla. A professionally produced family tree was offered to hundreds of attendees.
Following her husband’s death in Spokane, Evelyn moved to Bellevue to be near her daughter and grandchildren.
At the Bellevue Senior Center, she soon became involved in activity planning.
After the family move to Whidbey Island, she made many friends in the Bayview Senior Center and was a familiar face in both the Fun Band and Langley’s Good Cheer.
On March 30, family members from Seattle, Montana and California gathered at Careage of Whidbey to celebrate Evvy’s 100th birthday. Grandson Jake surprised his great-grandmother with her old ukulele which she tuned and played while the entire family sang “You are My Sunshine.”
It would be remiss not to mention the years of love and support Evelyn provided to her daughter and family. Evelyn’s survivors are daughter and son-in-law Bonnie and Ron Murdock; granddaughters, Kelly Murdock Boyle (Gene), Kristy Murdock Kaeser (Rich) and Jamie O’Malley (Dan); great-grandchildren Jake and Katie O’Malley and Gene Kelly Boyle.
Evelyn will be forever loved and missed by many.
Heartfelt thanks are extended from the family to the staffs of Careage of Whidbey and Hospice.
