Mary Lou Hamilton Evers, 70, of La Grande died July 2 at a local care center.
Mrs. Evers was born Aug. 5, 1934, to Coy and Myrtle Arnson Hamilton in Florence, Ariz. The family moved to La Grande in 1947 where they owned Coy's Auto Supply.
She graduated from La Grande High School in 1952 and studied bookkeeping at Eastern Oregon Normal School. On June 22, 1957, she married James G. Evers.
She worked as a bookkeeper for her husband's business, Grande Ronde Construction, for more than 50 years.
She was a member of the Laureate Alpha Omicron Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, the Daughters of the Nile, the Mavericks and the Rusty Wheels Car Club.
Survivors include a son, Jeffrey Coy, of La Grande; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A daughter, Judy Lynn, died in 1988.
Memorials may be made to the Shriners' Hospital in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.
Most of the information above it about Judy's mother. I don't recall Judy's exact birthday and day she died. If I recall correctly, she was doing what she loved, riding a horse in the mountains with mutual friend Nancy Coleman Wright. Her horse was spooked by a rattle snake and she was thrown and hit her head on a rock and died. Someone else please correct any of these details that might be inaccurate.
Judy (and Nancy) were two of my best friends growing up. I first learned to ride a horse from my dad, but Judy and Nancy really taught me to ride well. They were/are both incredible horsewomen and had/have a love for life. I remember Judy sleeping over; we would sleep in bags on our front lawn and sneek down to Riverside Park in the night to meet boys and, I can't believe I'll admit this, but smoke my first cigarette with them (I am a devote Mormon now and don't smoke).
I remember Judy, Nancy and I galloping our horses through Riverside Park (which didn't allow horses) and sometimes being chased away by the groudskeeper. Often when we stayed overnight with one another, our horses stayed too. We were in 4-H riding clubs together and rode in competitions and went on trailrides.
I learned to dance with Judy, watching American Bandstand and imitating what we saw (this was later a great memory I have with Elva Blackman--who could really dance!). She introduced me to the song "Bang a Gong" which still conjures up memories of her for me. Judy taught me to sew a halter top and convinced me to wear cut off shorts--when my legs were really too fat for them. We rode intertubes down the river and road our horses into the river. She made everything a fun and exciting adventure.
I didn't know her as well in her the last years of her life, but I love her and miss her. She was a wonderful part of my youth.
Randy Halliday
Mary Lou Hamilton Evers, 70, of La Grande died July 2 at a local care center.
Mrs. Evers was born Aug. 5, 1934, to Coy and Myrtle Arnson Hamilton in Florence, Ariz. The family moved to La Grande in 1947 where they owned Coy's Auto Supply.
She graduated from La Grande High School in 1952 and studied bookkeeping at Eastern Oregon Normal School. On June 22, 1957, she married James G. Evers.
She worked as a bookkeeper for her husband's business, Grande Ronde Construction, for more than 50 years.
She was a member of the Laureate Alpha Omicron Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, the Daughters of the Nile, the Mavericks and the Rusty Wheels Car Club.
Survivors include a son, Jeffrey Coy, of La Grande; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A daughter, Judy Lynn, died in 1988.
Memorials may be made to the Shriners' Hospital in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St.
Tami Tanja Peck (Crouch)
Most of the information above it about Judy's mother. I don't recall Judy's exact birthday and day she died. If I recall correctly, she was doing what she loved, riding a horse in the mountains with mutual friend Nancy Coleman Wright. Her horse was spooked by a rattle snake and she was thrown and hit her head on a rock and died. Someone else please correct any of these details that might be inaccurate.
Judy (and Nancy) were two of my best friends growing up. I first learned to ride a horse from my dad, but Judy and Nancy really taught me to ride well. They were/are both incredible horsewomen and had/have a love for life. I remember Judy sleeping over; we would sleep in bags on our front lawn and sneek down to Riverside Park in the night to meet boys and, I can't believe I'll admit this, but smoke my first cigarette with them (I am a devote Mormon now and don't smoke).
I remember Judy, Nancy and I galloping our horses through Riverside Park (which didn't allow horses) and sometimes being chased away by the groudskeeper. Often when we stayed overnight with one another, our horses stayed too. We were in 4-H riding clubs together and rode in competitions and went on trailrides.
I learned to dance with Judy, watching American Bandstand and imitating what we saw (this was later a great memory I have with Elva Blackman--who could really dance!). She introduced me to the song "Bang a Gong" which still conjures up memories of her for me. Judy taught me to sew a halter top and convinced me to wear cut off shorts--when my legs were really too fat for them. We rode intertubes down the river and road our horses into the river. She made everything a fun and exciting adventure.
I didn't know her as well in her the last years of her life, but I love her and miss her. She was a wonderful part of my youth.