Evelyn E. Miley, 76, died May 2, 2008, at Mountain View Care Center in Kimberly, Idaho, with her family by her side after a long decline from Alzheimer's and, finally, ovarian cancer.
Evelyn Elizabeth Edwards was born March 29, 1932, in Clinton, Texas, to Frank Edwards and Beulah Nightingale Dowden. She was raised throughout Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas with her brothers, John, Frank Jr. and Chuck, and sister, Donna Jean, as the family moved around with her father's steamfitter position with the Atomic Energy Commission.
Evelyn attended Ouchita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., before the family moved to Kennewick, Wash., where she enrolled at Whitmore College in Spokane.
In 1952 she married Daniel D. McCracken. The couple moved from Washington to Cincinnati and eventually to Ossining, N.Y., where they raised their seven children.
Evelyn was instrumental in the development of the Meditation Gardens at the Unitarian Church in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., co-founded the Adoptive Families of Westchester and participated in the creation of the Martin-Ossining Charitable Trust. As trustee she helped create the Open Door Medical Clinic, which has grown to seven locations serving 30,000 patients with over 170,000 annual visits. The trust also made the initial donation for the concrete foundation to the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood's first building expansion.
Evelyn always gave her all to everything she did. An exceptional executive secretary, hostess and fund-raiser, Evelyn's competitive spirit was also found in her bowling, tennis and bridge play.
After her divorce, Evelyn moved to Hailey in 1982 to be near her grandson. She immediately became a contributor to her new community through the operation, with her daughters, of The Clothing Corral and Ketchum Kids. She served as president of the Hailey Chamber of Commerce, spearheading the original Spring Fest, complete with Bavarian band and the closing of Main Street. She also created the campaign to purchase the sheep wagon and create the Hailey brochure.
On Feb. 16, 1986, she was married to George Miley Sr. at the Episcopal Cathedral in Boise by Bishop David Birney. Evelyn was an accomplished pianist and organist and played for services at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Hailey, where she also taught Sunday school.
The couple moved to Salmon in 1995. Evelyn learned a new art, quilt making, at which she excelled, just like she did with her needle pointing, knitting and sewing. In addition to her needlecraft skills, she was also an exceptional baker, creating beautiful cakes for family and friends. She loved to have her grandchildren came to visit for ballgames and hockey tournaments.
Evelyn lived with her daughter, Gini, and family before her illness required her to be moved to the Mountain View Care Center.
She is survived by her husband, George, of Salmon; her sister, Donna Jean McFarland, of Florida; her children, Charlie McCracken (Ann) of Greenfield, Mass.; Jude Carlin of Hailey and grandson, Marcus (Cindy) and great granddaughter Deanna; Cindy Broxson of Bellevue and granddaughter, Lyn, (father Tim Broxson); Gini Ballou (Jeff) of Hailey and grandchildren, Patrick, Wayne (Lani), Trista and Kenny; Shelley Bahrenfuss of Twin Falls and grandsons, Drake Fischer, (father Evan Fischer) and Deuce Bahrenfuss, (father Randy Bahrenfuss); Aliza McCracken of Bakersfield, Calif.; Tom McCracken of Grand Junction, Colo., and grandson, TJ (mother Crystal McCracken) and her stepsons, Scott Miley (Jane) of Hailey and granddaughters, Cassidy and Sienna; Steve Miley of Boise and George Miley Jr. (Susan) of Twin Falls and grandchildren Korey and Kyle; and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, three brothers and a grandson.
Visitation and viewing will be from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, May 8, at Wood River Chapel in Hailey. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m., Friday, May 9. The Episcopal service will be held at St. Charles Catholic Church in Hailey with Father Shawn Carty presiding. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Hailey Hotel. Cremation and committal of ashes will be at the Hailey Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Souper Supper, Box 4197, Ketchum, ID 83340 or another food bank, or the Alzheimer's Foundation, 322 Eight Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.
Arrangements are under the care of Wood River Chapel of Hailey.
