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Evelyn York Finch - 12/2/2010

Class of 1944

Our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Evelyn York Finch has gone home to her mansion in Heaven after 84 years. Her Heavenly Father called on December 2, 2010 asking her to join Him for dinner. She was ready. She was willing. Without hesitation, she put in her RSVP. She took a moment to say goodbye to family and friends who surrounded her bedside, hoping with selfish hearts that she would stay. But knowing the time had come.

She was born on December 12, 1925 in Orem, Utah to Elmer and Nellie Swenson York.

She grew up in Orem and graduated from Pleasant Grove High School. She worked at Park's Cafe in Orem and then for Dr. Hoopes in his dental office. But the measure of a person never lies in what they do. It lies in who they become in the process of doing. Evelyn became great in everything she put her mind to.

She married Louis Jay Finch on November 8, 1947 and she became an extraordinary wife. She was the most beautiful woman in the world. She loved and therefore spoiled her husband Jay beyond belief. And of course, he will tell you he undeniably deserved it. When they decided 61 years of marriage was not enough they solemnized the marriage in the Mount Timpanogos Temple on November 8, 2008. To date they have 63 years together.

Evelyn was never a housewife but rather an amazing homemaker. She took pride in her cooking, her cleaning, and her remarkable ability to manage motherhood. And all of this she managed to do while working alongside her husband on the farm. She learned the value of hard work at an early age and passed that work ethic on to all four of her surviving children. J. Alan Finch and his wife, Diane of Orem, Lana Lee Christiansen and her husband, Bob of Salt Lake City, Kim M. Finch and his wife Marilyn of Orem, and Cindy Lou Jennings and her husband Ray of Salem, Oregon stand up and shout endless praises to her name. "They rise up and call her blessed." Proverbs 31:28.

Evelyn knew that to have a friend one must be a friend. As a result she was blessed abundantly with a multitude of friends. Evelyn's home was a gathering place for those who needed to laugh, to cry, to love, or to just sit at the kitchen table and gaze out the window. Many afternoons were spent admiring God's creation. Magnificent Mount Timpanogos, visible from the kitchen window, towers above manifesting the greatness of God. Evelyn loved to travel and visited many places in the world. Some of her favorites were the exotic Amazon River, the pyramids in Mexico, North Pole, Alaska via the Alcan Highway, and the lush Fern Grotto in Kauai.

Evelyn joined her father, Elmer, her mother, Nellie and her younger sister Carol Johns at the dinner table in Heaven the evening of the 2nd. You could hear the laughter and rejoicing throughout the meal as the reunion began. It got especially loud when the dessert was served.

Evelyn was a joy to her parents and a best friend to her sister. Meaningful relationships take time and effort and Evelyn was willing to put forth both.

Evelyn went on ahead of Jay. Probably to make sure the house was in order before he arrived. Besides her four children she left one brother, Rae Dell York and his wife Rae Jean of Springville. They always spent hours reminiscing about their good times together. She left 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. All of which love and adore her. She nurtured and cared for them in so many ways. She recognized the potential in each and every one of them. But most importantly she expected and will continue to expect excellence from them in all they endeavor to do.

We will be wise to remember the dates on the headstone are not nearly as important as the (dash) in between. Evelyn filled that dash with good things, great things, and worthwhile things. She experienced the richness of life only some can imagine. Others only dream about.

She did not stand on the sidelines. She participated in life. She did all things well. She has been the good and faithful servant. Thank you, Evelyn, for an astonishing example of how to live life.

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