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Picture to the right taken in 1935 at the "Old Kuna Farm" in Kuna, Idaho.
In the back: Keith, Ava and Pap
Below L to R: Dallas, Wesley, Dean, Bob, Billy and Laura Mae
Front L to R: Keven, Lila, oy and Dick with kitten)

(Photos to the right are Ava holding her first child, son, Wesley Evans in 1913. Ava as a young child (standing on the left) with her siblings. Her Wedding Announcement.)

Ava Edna Evans
NAMPA — Services for Ava Edna Evans, 77, of 404 Stanford. Nampa, who died at her home Monday, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Alsip Funeral Chapel by the Rev. Claire E. Olney, pastor of the Nampa Congregational Church. Interment will be at Hillcrest. Friends may call at the chapel today and until 10 a.m. Thursday.
She was born March 6, 1894 at Vermillion S.D. She was married to William W. Evans on June 5, 1912. They moved to Nampa in 1934 from Eagle Butte, S.D.
She is survived by her husband; eight sons, Wesley W. Evans, Oak Park, III., Dallas G. Evans, Meridian; Robert B. Evans, in California; Dean M. Evans, Phoenix, Ariz.. William O. Evans, Augusta, Mich., Keith W. Evans, Woodenville, Wash., Richard D. Evans, Marsing, and Kevin K. Evans, Nampa: three daughters, Laura Mae O'Rorke and Joy M. Robinson, both of Boise, and Lila Bradburn. Namp0a; a brother, Harry Webb, Milbank. S.D., a sister, Uella Webb, Winner, S.D., 30 grandchildren and 14 great-grand-children. She was preceded in death by a brother.

The Idaho Daily Statesman (Boise, Idaho) October 13, 1971 - Page 81

Ava met Billy at a dance when she was just 17 years old and for both it was "love at first sight." He traveled with the band, playing the fiddle plus a variety of other instruments depending on the songs. Initially Ava's mother did not approve of Billy Evans, because she felt that musicians were "foot-loose, undependable, irresponsible, and would never settle down." Billy was so taken with Ava, however, that he dropped out of the band and soon began farming on land that he homesteaded a few miles out of Eagle Butte--vowing to become a respectable farmer and good provider.

Ava had attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion - the Preparatory part (her mother, Laura, had attended the University of South Dakota also). (After his children were born, William went back to school and got his High School Diploma and then is Associates Degree. He would have gone on to get his BA, but he had gotten a promotion at Douglas Aircraft and was working 6-7 days a week).

As recalled by Ava and Billy Evans and told to granddaughter
Billy proposed to Ava shortly after her 18th birthday and less than 3-months later they were married. Their wedding took place in the home of her parents on June 5, 1912. When they applied for their marriage license, Billy who looked exceptionally young for his age, had to produce "proof of age." Up until then, Ava had thought that he was just a little older than she was. She never did let him forget that he deceived her about his age, and that she "married an old man of 27 who was 9 years her senior." Marilyn says, "When Grandma (Ava) mentioned this, Pap (Billy) turned a little pink as he chuckled and said, "But I did not lie, I just never really said what my age was, you just assumed I was about the same age as you!"

Life in South Dakota had been hard and demanding, and the drought years of the late 1920s to early 1930s and a fire, in 1934, finally took their home and farm. Billy and Ava made the decision to move on to greener pastures, so they packed up their family and what was left of their worldly possessions, which was very little after a fire a few months earlier, and in the summer of 1934 headed for Idaho.

They soon purchased an 80-acre farm with a 2-story farmhouse, barn, and several outbuildings in Kuna, where they settled down to raise their children and rebuild their life together. Ava and William loved the farm where together they stored up many happy memories, and made a comfortable living until retiring from farming in 1964. After selling the farm, they purchased a nice 2-acrea parcel at the corner of Stanford and Delaware streets in the town of Nampa and built a 2-bedroom house, just big enough for them.

PER daughter Lila Oct. 1988:
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When their new home was completed, I moved all of the folk's small stuff with the stock trailer. My husband and I did most of the moving for them, the moving day was July 4.

Keith and a man named Rybolt did the brick laying for the home. It was a beautiful home and one they enjoyed very much.
Mother had many flowers, especially the roses that she loved most. Mother loved life and really enjoyed the autumn time of year. Her whole life revolved around her husband and family. She never worked away from the home, but was always busy in the home and making something for someone else. She did a lot of crocheting and fancy embroidery work, and was a beautiful seamstress--and a very good cook.

Ava enjoyed her new home where she continued to sew and crochet for others. Her floors always had a high wax shine, and with her own handmade rag rugs you had to watch your step or soon find yourself lying prone on your back on the floor looking up at the distant ceiling.

As time passed, she started to feel the years take their toll. She was diabetic and had been insulin dependent for over 20 years. Now, in addition, she was experiencing a good deal of pain from bursitis in her left shoulder as well as heart problems. When she woke up not feeling well that cold morning of October 11, 1971, she knew things were not right, so she gave in to Pap's insistence that he take her to see the doctor. Pap went out to the garage to warm up the car, while she finished getting dressed and combing her hair. When she didn't come out in a short time, Pap came in to see what was taking her so long. He found her lying on the bathroom floor; she had suffered a heart attack, leaving her pain, the cares of this earth, and Pap behind. All of her children and many grandchildren attended her funeral to say goodbye to a special lady who meant so much to all of them. Pap said, "What a shame, she always longed to have all her family back together again-one more time-and she had to die for her dream to come true."