Bertha Mae Evans

Bertha married her husband, George Peter Kuszynski Evans, on July 24, 1942, and lived for 12 years in Indianapolis, IN, before relocating to Bakersfield, CA in 1958.

Bertha was passionate about sewing and built a career on her extraordinary abilities. She began her career at L. S. Ayers in Indianapolis until she was noticed by the Jordan Ballet Company, affiliated with Indiana University, and she became one of their premier costume designers. After arriving in Bakersfield, she was contacted by Hollywood for a costume designer position in the motion picture industry. She chose to stay with her family and worked for Sylvia Shishido at Cycle Tote, making blouses for Teddies of CA. She developed a hobby in her spare time designing and making anything and everything her children and friends could think of for school programs, contests, and especially for Halloween. Her creativity and imagination knew no bounds as she could complete any project from scratch from just a verbal order and a few measurements. She made all the costumes used by Milton “Spartacus” Miller at the Padre Hotel, where she and her family lived for 7 years. Her husband, George Evans, was the manager of the Padre until his death in 1992. She was well known by many friends in the Downtown area, especially the ladies at Woolworth’s material department. She will be remembered for her laughter and friendliness while sharing her talents whenever asked.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Alta Thompson; her brothers Edward and Vernon Thompson; and her sisters, Edna Trainor and Dorothy Seaberg. She is survived by her son, George Daniel Evans; her daughter, Frances Faye Thomas; grandson, John Robert Alden; and great-grandchildren, Adam and Alisha Alden; brother, Fred Thompson and sisters, Catherine Higbee, Freida Haffman, Geneva Duitsman, Margie Thomas, Vivian Siefkens; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 24, 2012, at Hillcrest Mortuary, followed by a graveside service at 2:00 p.m. in Whispering Pines Lawn, Hillcrest Memorial Park.