Evelyn passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Sept. 15, 2010. She was born on July 21, 1926, in Treverton, Penn., to Nelson Miles Boyer and Mary Viola (Lought) Boyer. She grew up in a loving household with two older brothers (Kenneth and Junior Nelson) and a younger sister (Arlene) in Bethlehem, Penn.
Her beloved father died tragically young in 1938, leaving his wife to raise four children alone in the closing years of the Depression. She and Kenneth worked hard to help support the family. With the aid of friends and, particularly, the Salvation Army, Evelyn graduated from St. Luke’s Teaching Hospital in Bethlehem, Penn., in 1948. Taking advantage of the education opportunities offered by the military, she enlisted in the Army in 1949. Within a year, they were looking for volunteers to form the core of nursing personnel for a new service called the Air Force. She joined and was further trained as a nurse anesthetist. She was assigned to Kimpo Hospital outside of Seoul, Korea, from 1952 until 1953 (the Korean War), where she earned the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
Upon returning to the U.S., Capt. Evelyn Boyer met Lt. William D. Potter. They fell in love and were married in New York, N.Y., on April 16, 1954. Choosing family over the military, she was honorably discharged on Aug. 1, 1954. She raised three children (Ross, Kenneth and Lynne) while still volunteering at various base hospitals, the Red Cross, her children’s schools … anywhere she could help others, throughout the rest of her life. In 1980 with children grown, Bill and Evelyn moved to Coupeville to build her “permanent” home. Over the next 30 years, they would form many strong and lasting friendships with the amazing people of that small town. Evelyn was a vibrant, intelligent, caring wife, mother and friend to all she met. She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, William; her children; her granddaughter, Elisabeth Louise Potter; her sister, Arlene; her niece, Sharon Shuman and daughter-in-law, Bette Potter (who were more like daughters); and our “adopted” family Terry and Kathy Lee. There are too many friends and relatives to list but please know that our family knows who you are and how important you were to her. She will be greatly missed.
