Evelyn Powell Parkinson, 95, passed from this life peacefully on Tuesday, December 31, 2019, in Rexburg, Idaho at the Homestead Assisted Living Center surrounded by loved ones.

She was born in Heman, Idaho on April 29, 1924, to James Raymond Powell and Agnes Pearl Terry; the fourth of 13 children. She graduated from South Fremont High School in 1943. She loved growing up in rural Fremont County with so many brothers and sisters. They worked very hard during the depression, but they played hard too. Many stories of fun, friendship, work, and family relationships have been told about her youth.

She married Merle Parkinson on Feb. 14, 1945, in the Salt Lake Temple. After Merle's discharge from the Army, together they began to build a life of farming in Plano. Everyone in the family had their share of farm work to do in order to provide for the family. If you couldn't find her in the house or garden, she was on a tractor or helping with the animals.

She loved to camp and fish any time she could talk Merle into taking her. She absolutely loved family reunions, and felt it was worth any effort necessary to get family together. She loved her yard and continued caring for it until she was 94 years old. She also loved to can her garden produce and continued to do that until that time as well.

Evelyn served in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She also served an 18-month mission with Merle in the Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission, which included the Bahamas. They truly loved the Bahamian people and spoke of their time there with incredible fondness.

She will be remembered for her tremendous faith in God, and for the love of her family. She spent hours upon hours making things for her children and grandchildren including meals, Sunday caramel popcorn, clothes, quilts, crafts, toys, and many other things including Christmas ornaments which she gave to each of them every year for many years. She happily and unconditionally gave many hours of service to her family, friends and community.

She was an artist at heart. She painted many pictures for her family. She loved to sew, crochet and embroider making many items for her home and family. She taught herself how to play the piano and enjoyed playing for her family and church. She made many recordings of her organ music, and Merle would love to sit and listen to anything she would play for him.

The last year of her life she was able to spend a few months in Homestead with her sister, Eloise, which was a wonderful blessing to her. After Eloise passed away, she missed being with and serving her.

She is preceded in death by her loving companion, Merle, her parents; brothers, Rulon, Wendell, Seth, and Gerald; sisters Verla, Eloise and Phyllis; son-in-law, Jerry (Vicky) Weimer; two grandsons, Jayce Steven Price and Jason Merle Parkinson.

She is survived by her five children: Vicky Weimer, of Coeur d'Alene, Corine (Jerry) DeTurk, of Salt Lake City, Randy (Renée) Parkinson, of Plano, Lyle (Vicki) Parkinson, of Boise, and Merlynn (Steve) Price, of Plano; 20 grandchildren, almost 43 great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren; brothers Thon, LaVar, Leon, and Don Powell and sister Shirley Lewis.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2020, at the Plano Ward chapel with Bishop Richard Blaser officiating. The family will receive friends and family Friday, January 3, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, and at the Plano church from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Plano Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the loving and compassionate staff at Homestead Assisted Living Center, and Homestead Home Health and Hospice for all their kind service during mom's time in their care.