Evelyn M. Proctor

Evelyn Proctor lived a long and full life. From her humble beginnings in Oceana County, Michigan, she worked hard to earn an education, raise her family and enjoy the fruits of a good life. Education was very important to Evelyn, and she went on to become a dedicated teacher, who impacted countless young lives during her many years of teaching. Above all, Evelyn loved to be surrounded by her family, and loved spending her time being a wife, mother and grandmother to the people who brought her life immeasurable joy. The year was 1918 and Woodrow Wilson had been elected to his second term as President, Irving Berlin penned God Bless America, and World War I was reaching its crescendo. On August 11, 1918, Scott and Winnie (Lambrix) Taylor of Oceana County, Michigan welcomed a tiny bundle of joy into their lives with the birth of their daughter, Evelyn. Evelyn was the baby of the family and was doted on by her three older siblings, Roger, Mildred and Ernest. While her mother was a busy homemaker, her father earned a living working road construction. The family was members of the Smith Corners Church in Pentwater, and this strong Christian upbringing would always be an important part of Evelyns life. Evelyn was an excellent student in school and went on to graduate as Valedictorian from Pentwater High School in 1935. She then attended County Normal College in Muskegon, and upon receiving her teaching certificate, she took her first teaching position at Maple Grove Elementary School in Holton in 1938. It was around this time that Evelyn met a handsome young man named Glenn Proctor at a local social gathering. Glenn and his parents were local milk farmers, and it wasnt long before he and Evelyn began dating. The young couple was happily married on June 16, 1939, in Hart, Michigan, and settled into married life together in an apartment on Henry Street in Muskegon. Over the next 10 years, Evelyn and Glenn filled their hearts and home with the joy and busyness of four wonderful children: Judy (1940), Jan (1942), James (1947) and Jon (1950). To provide for their growing family, Glenn worked as a welder at Westran Corporation during the war, and then started his own business, delivering milk from the farmers to the dairy. It wasnt long before the family outgrew their apartment in Muskegon, and in 1941, they had a new 2-bedroom home built at 2209 Mills Avenue in North Muskegon. Eventually, Glenn had to have the upstairs renovated to add on more bedrooms. Once settled in their new community, Glenn, Evelyn and the family became members of the Community United Methodist Church of North Muskegon. As a couple, Evelyn and Glenn were always frugal minded with their income so they could provide for their family. Because of this, they were one of the first in the neighborhood to have a TV, and in 1959 they bought a brand new Chevy Impala. Family was always important to Evelyn, and she made weekly trips to Pentwater to visit her mother. She and Glenn and their kids also enjoyed trips to the Upper Peninsula to visit other family members, and a few times they met up with friends to take the ferry across to the UP. At home, the family enjoyed leisure walks to the Hillcrest Ice Cream store for a treat, and neighborhood perch fishing trips to the Muskegon Channel. Besides being a devoted wife and mother, Evelyn was a full-time second grade teacher in the Whitehall District Schools for a while, before going to teach in the North Muskegon Public Schools in 1962. Then, in 1965, Evelyn went back to school to earn her Bachelors Degree in Education at Western Michigan University, graduating in 1968. Meanwhile, her husband Glenn and his partner, Vern Grill s business, Proctor and Grill Inc., was going well with 4 big milk tankers. In 1978, Glenn retired and sold his half of the business to his partner. Then in 1980, Evelyn retired from teaching. The couple wasted no time in getting an apartment in sunny Florida to get away from the cold, and later upgraded to a 3-bedroom home in Orlando. Evelyn and Glenn loved it here, spending time with friends, golfing and taking day trips around the area. In her leisure time, Evelyn also enjoyed watching pro basketball and was a big fan of the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons; she liked hockey too. She also enjoyed playing Bridge. Family was the cornerstone of Evelyns life though, and she took great joy in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sadly, Evelyn lost her beloved husband Glenn unexpectedly in 1996, and after that she never had the heart to go back to Florida again. As Evelyn grew older, her health began to decline and she went to live in an apartment at Seminole Shores. It didnt take long for Evelyn to settle into her new surroundings, and she made many great new friends too. Sadly, after a long battle with Alzheimers, Evelyn passed away on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at the age of 91. Evelyn was wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, and will be dearly missed and fondly remembered always. Evelyn is survived by her sons, Jon (Beth) Proctor of N. Muskegon, James Proctor of FL; daughters, Judith Proctor, Janice (Ron) Leutscher, both of N. Muskegon; grandchildren: Lisa (Mike) Bryant, Robert (Sheril) George, Monte (Brenda) George, Jeffery (Denise) George, Todd & Trevor Leutscher, Amanda, James, Jason (Coris), Jeffery, & Carrie Proctor; and 9 great grandchildren. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn; brothers, Roger & Ernest Taylor; and sister, Mildred Taylor. Services will be held on Monday, March 1, at 11:00 a.m. at Community United Methodist Church with Rev. Robert Lynch officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to either Community United Methodist Church or Alzheimer's Association. Please visit Evelyns personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may sign her online guest book and/or share a memory with her family.