Evelyn Bush

Evelyn Bush, age 90, passed away on Sept. 18, 2014, at Tranquility Manor Assisted Living Home in Palmer. She was born in Twin Falls, Idaho on January 15, 1924 to Freeman and Vivian Hawley. They later moved to Portland, Oregon where she was raised. After she graduated from high school, she worked at a factory making machine parts.

In 1946 Evelyn and her husband John moved to north Palmer and purchased land from Max Sherrod where they had a garden to feed a growing family. In 1956 they moved to Lazy Mountain and began the “Bushes Bunches” farm and sold vegetables at a roadside stand. In the mid 60’s, the road stand was closed and Evelyn opened a greenhouse and sold flower and vegetable plants.

Evelyn was a key figure in the introduction and education of young people to agriculture and an avid supporter of the Future Farmers of America. She served the Mat-Su Valley community through her activities with the Alaska State Fair, Pioneers of Alaska, the Rock Garden Society and the Alaska Farm Bureau. In 1998, Evelyn was recognized for the outstanding contributions of Alaska in Agriculture as part of the annual Alaska Agriculture Symposium.

Evelyn is remembered for her generosity, her laughter, hard work and her many dinner parties. Every stranger she met became an instant friend.

She loved hunting to put meat in the freezer for the winter, spent time in the family cabin in Seldovia to fish and played pinochle a couple times a week with her friends. She also painted and cross-country skied.

Evelyn and John started traveling to Hawaii every winter for 3 weeks where she learned to snorkel. Often, there were several other family members joining them. Evelyn traveled, seeing places like Mexico, Greece, Australia, the Czech Republic, South America and all over the “Lower 48”.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, John Bush; a son Robert Bush; and a grandson, Ryan.

She is survived by children Nancy McGee of Palmer; Bonnie Goss of Kent, Ohio; J. Bruce Bush of Palmer; Daniel Bush of Wasilla; Vern Bush of Palmer; and seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be sent to Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska, 1750 Abbot Road Anchorage, AK 99507.

A celebration of life is at 3 p.m., Oct. 4 at The Moose Lodge at 110 S. Cobb St. Palmer.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary.