Wilma Pauline Evans, better known as Pauline or Grandma to most, passed away peacefully at home in her daughter Tammy’s arms, with her son Billy Jr, her niece Penny and some grandkids, on October 14 2024.

Pauline was born in Dustin, Oklahoma on March 3, 1943 to Jesse and Lola Morton. They then moved to Selma, Calif. where she would grow up until her sophomore year in high school. They would then relocate to Hydesville. She would then attend and graduate from Fortuna High.

After graduation she then met and married Billy Evans Sr. They would marry in 1961 and bought their house in Alton in 1966. They had two children, Billy Jr and Tammy. Pauline spent most of the kids’ younger years being a stay-at-home mom, which she loved!

When the kids were in high school she found a job as a secretary at Fortuna Wheel and Brake. There she became involved in many activities and hobbies, such as cars and sports. She would later leave Fortuna and move to Anderson, Calif., where she worked at Silver Thorne Resort. After living there for a few years she decided to move back to Fortuna and found a job working for the City of Rio Dell until she retired. Pauline didn’t like sitting around, so she got a part-time job working at Sherlock mini-storage and Robbins Nest daycare.

Pauline’s love for cars and sports would surely grow over all these years. She would go watch NASCAR over a 10 year span with her good friend Jim Daetwiler. Her all-time favorite was Rusty Wallace. She was very involved in the Ladies Auxiliary and Fortuna AutoXpo, where she left running the show and shine to her grandkids. So many AutoXpo family and friends that will miss her dearly, it will just not be the same without her!

Pauline enjoyed movies as well. She and her best friend, Colleen, were always going to new movies that would come out, and we all loved hearing about them. She also had a huge involvement in making sure family reunions ran smoothly with her sisters. Also that we all ate good food and sweets. Pauline loved to cook, bake and can. One of her most famous was her peanut butter pie, which was a birthday or holiday treat for all of us! Her love for cooking and baking have trickled down the family tree too — her kids and grandkids, we are all greatful we have a cookbook to go by!

On a Sunday you could catch her at home watching a Vikings football game or a recorded game of the Giants or Golden State Warriors and more than likely she would be talking to her sister Brenda about the game, score and stats while they both watched any game!

Pauline was huge in our community and will be greatly missed by not just friends and family but clubs and activities.

We are so grateful that you were our grandma. You have filled our lives with so much love and precious memories you will always be loved and forever missed!

Pauline is proceeded in death by:

Parent: Jesse and Lola Morton

Ex-husband: Billy Evans Sr.

Siblings: Sonny Morton, Garnett Buckner and Brenda Delmenico

Nephews: Noel Morton & Dewayne Buckner

Grandson: Dakota Evans

Great-granddaughter: Jessilyn Evans

Pauline was survived by:

Children: Billy Evans Jr. (April), Tammy Evans and Sharon Hicks

Sisters: Bobbie Buckner, and Sue and Bill Gordon

Sister-in-law: Evelyn Flothe

Grandkids: Billy Evans III (Melita), Joshua Evans (Terri), Austin Evans (Ashleyanna) Jessica Evans, Jasmine Menroe-Page (Doug), Hannah Pollard (Michael), Tavin Evans, Jimmy Daetwiler, Garyn Evans, Jessica Gonzalez, Brandon Harper and Anthony Ramirez

Bonus Grandkids: Cody Burns, Haley Green (Alex), Jenny Metcalfe, Bruin Gormley Robbins, Persephone Robbins, Breezie Donahue

20 Great-grandkids

Special Nephew: Frankie Collings

Special Nieces:Penny & Dawn

Best Friend: Colleen Mcguire

Many more family, friends, nieces, nephews, brother/sister in-laws & cousins that will really miss her!

The Evans family asks you to join them for coffee, tea and sweets at the Fortuna Fire Hall Saturday November 23 at 1 p.m.