Evelyn Hope Payne (nee Cockfield)

Evelyn Hope Payne was a well-loved woman of independent spirit, admired for her warmth, intelligence, determination, integrity and self-discipline. She suffered a massive stroke on June 28, 2012, and died peacefully five days later on July 3, 2012 at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham Washington. She was age 88.

Evelyn, aka “Mum” to her children and “Evie” to many friends, was born to Dr. William Egbert Cockfield and Ouida Ethel Davis on December 27, 1923, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Her family life was warm and loving in both good times and bad. Evelyn enjoyed a close relationship with her only sister Shirley. Although Shirley was but one year older, their parents often dressed them as twins – always, Shirley in pink and Evelyn in blue. Evelyn said she always wanted to wear the pink, but inevitably, was stuck with the blue. Evelyn was almost six years old in October 1929, when the Great Depression began, and it had an enormous impact on her life. She vividly recalled folks knocking on the door asking for a handout. Her family was thankful for what they had, and their mother made sure no one ever left their home hungry. Possibly because of this, Evelyn was thrifty to the core and always fair-minded. She was a wonderful role model for her children.

In her young life, she had opportunities for travel and outdoor fun and she grew in independence. She remembered once taking a scenic trip across Canada with Shirley and her mother. She said the scenery was spectacular, but the trip was most memorable because of the special fare – it only cost them a penny a mile! As a girl, Evelyn took piano lessons from her mother, who was a music teacher. She adored her father, a Senior Geologist for the Geological Survey of Canada. But he was often gone for long stretches while exploring the Yukon Territory and British Columbia. She was thrilled when the family got to accompany him on his “camping” trips. As a teen she remembered taking public transportation across the city of Vancouver whilst carrying her snow skis, climbing up Grouse Mountain on foot, skiing down the mountain, and returning home by bus. This was her idea of a really fun day!

Evelyn had a quiet intelligence complemented by determination and self-discipline in many endeavors. She grew up primarily in Vancouver, British Columbia, until going off to college at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. There she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from MacDonald College, and became a Dietitian, working for Vancouver General Hospital upon her return to that city. She pursued several hobbies including serious investing, which led her to join “ProfitDear’s” Investment Club. Evelyn loved playing all types of games and puzzles, especially with her grandchildren, and was a lifelong devotee of the game of bridge. Evelyn continued to play in Friday Harbor, moving on to duplicate bridge and participating in tournaments. She was thrilled to recently attain the level of “LIFE MASTER” in Bridge – a twenty-year commitment.

Friendships and commitments were important in Evelyn’s life. Evelyn was a founding member of the “SUB-DEB” club at Magee High School in Vancouver BC. She formed the club with friends who were NOT the debutant type. This group, along with friends made later at MacDonald, provided Evelyn lasting friendship with many wonderful people.

One summer day Evelyn went with friend Sheila Francis to Grantham’s Landing on BC’s Sunshine Coast. It was there she found herself on a walk with a shy young man named Harold Payne. Harold & his friend Den Kelsey had just been on a sailing adventure, which had turned into an ordeal because of stormy conditions. She always joked that Harold had no choice but to walk with her, as her friend Sheila happened to be dating Harold’s friend Den Kelsey at the time. Even though they were strangers, they found they had many mutual friends. After one month of dating, Evelyn knew she wanted to marry Harold, but she kept this to herself – it was a full year before he realized it and got up the nerve to propose marriage. Evelyn and Harold were married on July 8, 1950 at Ryerson United Church in Vancouver, BC Canada.

Harold and Evelyn raised five daughters in British Columbia and California. While in California, Evelyn was a homemaker who volunteered for Meals on Wheels, and was a member of Toastmasters International as well as various bridge clubs. Evelyn loved to play tennis & travel and did so often with Harold. One of the enduring things they did for their children was to establish a family cottage on Gambier Island in 1959 – it provided decades of enjoyment for the entire family. The projects she undertook reflected her integrity and her desire to share with others.

In 1990, Harold and Evelyn retired to Friday Harbor, Washington. They settled nicely into the island lifestyle. Evelyn enjoyed gardening and also volunteered at the Friday Harbor Senior Center. Harold had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease earlier in 1982; Evelyn patiently cared for him until his eventual death in May of 1995.

One Christmas, Evelyn accompanied her five daughters on a cruise to the Western Caribbean. Everyone had a wonderful time. She also took individual trips with each of her five daughters and their families. These trips took her to Africa, Greece, Italy, Spain, Morocco, and China. All have fond memories of those special days.

Evelyn modeled a lifetime commitment to strong relationships with family and friends. She was pre-deceased by husband Harold Payne and grandson Harrison Cade Fox. She is survived by a sister, Shirley McMahon; five daughters and their spouses, Allison, Barbara, Martha, Betsy and Rosemary, and fourteen grandchildren: Aaron, Ashleigh, Andrew, Ursula, Dallas, Austin, Holly, Alexander, Andres, Isabel, Henry, Celia, Graham and Hope, as well as great grandson Carter.

A memorial service to celebrate Evelyn’s life is being planned for Saturday July 14, 2012 at the Friday Harbor Senior Center at 1:30 pm. All are welcome to attend.