Evelyn Mae Wallace

May 6, 1919 - July 3, 2016

Evelyn Mae Wallace, a 35-year resident of Grand Junction, Colorado, passed away on July 3, 2016.

Born on May 6, 1919, in Glendive, Montana, Evelyn was 97 years old. She graduated salutatorian of her 1937 class at Columbus High School in Columbus, MT. In 1941, she married Frank Hirt and they had two children together, Frank Hirt (deceased) and Sharon Deppe (Clifton). Evelyn was widowed in 1944, when Frank Sr. died as a result of an injury sustained in the war. In 1954, she met and married Eugene Sullivan. She went on to have three children, Deborah Vogel (Grand Junction), John Sullivan (New Castle) and Rebecca Talbott (Parachute).

At a time when many women stayed home with their children, Evelyn enjoyed her work as a bookkeeper. She worked for 12 years as a senior bookkeeper/accountant supervisor for the Superintendent of Schools in Nevada County, California, a job she enjoyed and excelled at before retiring to Grand Junction. Her husband, Gene, succumbed to cancer in 1981, just weeks after they relocated. At age 66, in 1985, she married Homer Wallace. She and Homer enjoyed some travel together and spent winters in Lake Havasu, Arizona. They were married 16 years before Mr. Wallace passed away in 2001. Evelyn was also preceded in death by her son, Frank Hirt, in 2013, her parents, and all but one of her siblings.

She loved reading - Agatha Christie mysteries were some of her favorites. She also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and baking. Her kids and grandkids fondly remember their yearly birthday cakes: a multi-colored three-layer cake with Seven-Minute frosting. Evelyn was also known to make the best divinity around. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church for many years and, more recently, a member of New Covenant Baptist Church in Grand Junction.

A middle child in a family of eight children, Evelyn is survived by her sister, Betty Bourne of Bismarck, ND; She was the mother of five, grandmother to 13, great-grandmother to 12 and great-great-grandmother to five. She most valued her family, friends, and faith. Her love was shown through action more than words and her life and legacy touched many. She will be remembered always and missed immensely.

A memorial service will be held at New Covenant Baptist Church, 3196 F Road, Grand Junction, CO on Thursday, July 14, 2016, at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to HopeWest Hospice, 3090B N. 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506.