Obituary of Evelyn Louise Blakemore

Evelyn Blakemore passed away peacefully of natural causes on January 10, 2015 in Santa Cruz at the age of 97. A third generation Santa Cruzan, she was born in Soquel on September 23, 1917 to Albert and Susan Houghton Godfrey. She grew up on the family ranch with her brothers, Herbert and Delos, both deceased. After graduation from Santa Cruz High School in 1935, she moved to Sacramento to work as a secretary for the State of California. There she met her husband, Martin, and they celebrated 62 years of marriage before his passing in 2002. She is survived by her three children, Marlyn Lawrence of Fremont, Donna Blakemore of San Francisco and Inverness, and Richard Blakemore of Carlsbad, CA. As a Navy wife, Evelyn followed Martie around the country from coast to coast, including duty stations in Honolulu and Kodiak, Alaska. There they were charter members of the Kodiak chapter of the Eastern Star. After Martie's retirement from the Navy, they relocated from San Diego to Santa Cruz to raise their family in her small hometown. A lifelong volunteer, she was active in the PTA and supported her girls in Job's Daughters. In 1940 she joined the Martha Washington Rebekah Lodge, then the Isabella Rebekah Lodge in Santa Cruz, as well as helping to found the Idlewild Rebekah Lodge in Boulder Creek. She remained active until her death. She held countless leadership positions in the Rebekahs over the years--including Noble Grand--as well as being elected Treasurer of the California Rebekah Assembly. For many years she was on the finance committee for the IOOF Children's Home in Gilroy. She affiliated with the Eastern Star in Santa Cruz and had also been active in the White Shrine. In Santa Cruz she had a career as an executive assistant in the Santa Cruz County Planning Department. After her retirement, she and Martie enjoyed traveling and gardening, especially growing orchids and begonias. Evelyn leaves behind her three children and their spouses, Stuart Lawrence, Erik Sueberkrop and Teresa Rodgers; two grandchildren, Lishelle Blakemore and Christopher Lawrence, and one great granddaughter, Maclaran Evelyn Lawrence. She is also remembered by two nephews and two nieces, Ken, Bill, and Sharon Godfrey and Diane Blakemore as well as everyone who knew her and her generous and kind spirit. Services will be held at Santa Cruz Memorial - Mission Chapel, 1927 Ocean Street on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 11 a.m. with a graveside service to follow.