Evelyn Uhlig

By Sun Advocate

PRICE- Evelyn Gentry Uhlig experienced the birth we call death on February 5, 2017 in Price, Utah from vascular dementia and health issues related to manic depressive illness and old age. She was 80 years old at the time of her death.
She was born on June 10, 1936 in Beaver, Beaver County, Utah to Russell Ambrose and Affa Allene Nelson Gentry.
Evie spent her first five years growing up on her parent’s chicken farm in Beaver. When the chickens all died from the cold weather one year, her dad joined the Utah National Guard. World War II broke out shortly after that and her dad found himself on a troop ship headed to reinforce the US Army in the Philippines when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The ships turned back and headed home and Evie then found herself in Anaheim, CA, for several years. She was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Camp Dodge, outside DesMoines, IA, during a short Army tour of her dad during the war. Her dad was next transferred to Yokahama, Japan, where Evie spent her last two years of High School, graduating from the American High School in Yokahama. Another two years of working in Japan for the American Occupation Forces, saw her returning Stateside and attending Brigham Young University, graduating from BYU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Relations in 1960. She then went on to teach Elementary School in Adams County, CO., until she met her husband, George in 1964, when he taught Chemistry at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. The romance was short; engaged in two and a half weeks, married in the Salt Lake Temple three months later on January 15, 1965; married for just a month over 52 years (neither would recommend such a short period of getting to know one another). George’s assignments in the USAF took them to Dayton, Ohio, where Evelyn Jean was born; then to Salt Lake City where George obtained his Doctorate degree in chemistry under the mentorship of Henry Eyring and Rebecca Ann was born; back to Dayton, OH, then off to live four years in London, England, where she, George, and their two daughters traveled the continent during summers of their assignment, and finally back to Dayton, OH, where George retired from the USAF. When George retired from 23 years of service with the USAF, Evie told him she had spent enough time outside of Utah and wanted to return to the state of her nativity, to which George agreed. They and their family have resided in Salt Lake City where George worked for Hercules Aerospace for 9 years, then became a College Teacher at the College of Eastern Utah in Price, Utah, where they resided up until the time of her death. Evie was quite active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints serving in Relief Society as a President, Visiting Teacher, numerous other callings; as first counselor in the Primary Presidency in London England and as Ward and Stake Girls Camp Director a number of times and as music and choir director for numerous Wards and Stakes (she was an accomplished violinist). She and George served a full time mission in 2009-2010 in the Charleston, WV, mission and were assigned to the Virginia Tech LDS Institute in Blacksburg, VA, where the two of them taught the gospel to VT students as well as to College students attending colleges in the Roanoke, VA. area. She was involved in Recovery, a self-help organization for people suffering from mental problems in an effort to help them lead as normal a life as possible on a minimum amount of medication (she suffered with manic depressive illness for almost her entire life). She held positions in this organization wherever she and George lived as a Group Leader and facilitated numerous groups in this organization.
Evie is survived by her husband, George; daughters, Evelyn Jean (David) Jarvis, Farmington, Utah, Rebecca Ann (Thad) Eagar, Portland, OR.; two grandsons, Braeden (Brynne) Gates and Phineas Eagar; one granddaughter, Alyssa Gates; great grandson, Boston Gates; older sister, Marcelle (Chick) Campo, LaVerne, CA.; two brothers, Robert (Marilyn) Gentry, Pleasant Grove, UT., Stephen (Erin) Gentry, Auburn, WA.
Preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Joan and Bonnie.
Funeral service, Wednesday, February 8, 2017, 10:00 a.m., Westwood LDS Ward. Family will receive friends one hour prior to service. Graveside service, Beaver Cemetery, 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.