Evelyn V. Pritchard, of Sumas, passed away at Whatcom Hospice House on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 at the age of 86. Evelyn was born in Rush, Arkansas, to Van Roe and Josephine Blossom (Goatley) Cunningham on April 24, 1930. Evelyn moved from the deep hills of the Ozarks at the age of 12 to Washington. She married Mark Hobson on March 1, 1948. Together they raised grapes for Welch’s, hay, cattle, squash and truck gardens, which they shared with others in Outlook, Washington, for 53 years. She loved to cook for all the farmhands.
Evelyn was employed as a supervisor for two garment factories, then went on to be supervisor of housekeeping at Toppenish Hospital and later settled into Sunnyside General Hospital as their supervisor of housekeeping before retiring.
Evelyn loved to watch her grandkids play basketball, baseball and football and was considered the team’s grandma.
She was a secretary and member of Granger Assembly of God Church. Evelyn led the Women’s Missionary group making quilts for missionaries. She was known by her family and friends as the most loving, caring and giving mother, grandmother and aunt in the whole world. She was an excellent seamstress, loved crocheting, canning and gardening and was an amazing cook and excellent hostess. She made her house a home for all who visited. Her home was known as Hobson Hospital by her nieces.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Mark Hobson; daughter Gwen Dunn; grandson Wesley Mark Kuhn; brothers LG Goatley and Ray Cunningham; sisters Anna Cunningham, Mazie Christopher and Pauline Leaverton.
Evelyn is survived by her husband of 11 years, George Pritchard; children Winnie (Bob) Kuhn and Lisa (Jeffrey) Poe; stepchildren Jason (Jennifer) Pritchard and Kerry (Terry) Cheney; son-in-law Barry Dunn; grandchildren Chad Dunn, Jason Kuhn, Dustin Dunn and Misty Kuhn Rogers; stepgrandchildren Kyle Pritchard and Kelly Reaney; 14 great-grandchildren; siblings Viola (Bill) Carter and Doyle (Kathy) Cunningham; and many nieces and nephews.
You are invited for a time of visitation at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, in Gillies Funeral Home followed by a 1 p.m. celebration service also in Gillies of Lynden.
You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
