Evalena Watson

On April 10, 1933 I was born on the family farm in Erbacon, West Virginia. I was the 8th of 9 children born to Thomas and Eliza (Dillon) Perrine. I was named by my sisters after the song Sweet Evalena, from 1867. I had a loving family and we were dirt poor. My clothing was made from feed sacks, and I only had one pair of shoes that I could only wear to church and school. I learned to hunt, work hard, and bake homemade biscuits and bread every day to feed the family. I always believed that fixing things was the best option in life. I worked in my middle school years as the school janitor. I would get to the building early so I could light the fireplaces to warm the building. Life was hard, but a lot of life lessons came from those hard days.

I graduated from Cowen High School in 1951, and moved to Akron, Ohio where I met my husband, Sammie. We were married almost 50 years when he passed away from cancer. We were blessed by a healthy, bouncing baby boy, James Eugene Watson, in 1963.

I worked for Consolidated Freightways for 50 years, and only retired because they closed the company. So, that gave me more time to do what I loved, maintain my gardens and enjoy my family. In 2011, when Sam passed away, I became the caregiver to my sister, Jackie. Jackie passed away in 2018 from Alzheimer’s disease. Also in 2011, I met my partner in crime, Susanne McArthur, who was Thelma to my Louise. We had great times the last 12 years, shopping and laughing, and she became my nurse until I needed additional help.

I passed away peacefully at Arden Courts in Bath on October 10, 2023. But don’t be sad, I assure you that I am more alive right now in Heaven than I ever was here on earth. I am survived by my son James, my best friend Susanne, my sister-in law Lenora Perrine, 14 living nieces and nephews, and many great nieces and nephews. 

For my parting thought, I love you all dearly and am so grateful to the staff at Arden Courts and Compassionate Care Hospice.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, October 16, 2023 from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Eckard Baldwin Funeral Home and Chapel, 760 E. Market St., 760 E. Market St., Akron, OH 44305. A graveside service will be Tuesday, October 17 at 10 a.m. at Hillside Memorial Park, 1025 Canton Rd., Akron, OH 44312.

For those of you who love flowers like I do, go ahead and send a few, they’ll do some hearts good. But for those of you who would rather do some good elsewhere, please donate to the Cancer Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, or Amedisys Foundation Hospice.

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