EVELYN MONSON CRAVEN
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. — Evelyn MONSON CRAVEN, of Friday HARBOR, Washington, passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2009.
Born in Preston, Idaho, in 1925, Evelyn was the youngest of seven children born to Christian and Jenny MONSON. After spending her early childhood in Preston, Evelyn attended Pocatello High School, where she graduated salutatorian in 1944.
In the two years following high school Evelyn achieved her associate of arts degree with high honors from the University of Idaho, Southern Branch, now Idaho State University. In 1946, Evelyn turned from further formal education to the field of marriage and family.
Evelyn and Jack CRAVEN were married in September of 1946. After their marriage Evelyn and Jack moved to Boise, Idaho, where their daughter, Naoni, was born. They then moved on to Eugene, Oregon, in pursuit of Jack’s education, and in 1949, they returned to Pocatello, Idaho, to live. Three more daughters, Claudia, Jennifer and Jacquie, followed within a few years. In 1953, the CRAVEN family moved to Manhattan Beach, California, where they lived until Jack’s death in 1957.
Following Jack’s death, Evelyn brought the girls back to Pocatello, where she returned to school to complete her bachelor’s degree. In 1960, Evelyn earned her bachelor of elementary education, again with high honors. During this time she was the first recipient of the Ethel E. Redfield Memorial Scholarship for the College of Education.
From 1960 through 1963, Evelyn taught at Tendoy Elementary School. She then returned to pursue her master’s of education degree, which she earned in 1964 from Idaho State University. Evelyn continued her career as a professor of education at Idaho State University from 1964 through 1975. In 1977, Evelyn obtained her doctoral degree in education from Washington State University.
Evelyn returned to Pocatello and to Idaho State University to continue her career, where she shared her love of learning with her students until her retirement in 1986. During this time she was the first recipient of the Professional Achievement Award for the College of Education in 1985. This award certainly reflected her love of teaching and her passion for her work. No one who ever took Dr. Craven’s classes would say they had been easy, but many remembered what she had taught.
Suffering from health issues, Evelyn moved in with her daughter, Jacquie, and her family in 2000. In 2002, Evelyn moved with Jacquie’s family to Nampa, Idaho, where she lived until 2004, when she went to join her eldest daughter’s family in Friday HARBOR, Washington.
Education and family were surely the loves of Evelyn’s life. She blended the two so well that all of her daughters and many of her grandchildren pursued careers linked to knowledge and education. Evelyn set an example for all her family, especially her daughters and grandchildren, of what could be accomplished with determination and perseverance, and her example will be honored in generations to come.
Evelyn is survived by her daughters, Naoni Zervas (Greg) of Friday HARBOR, Washington, Claudia Mecham (Barry) of Pocatello, Idaho, Jennifer McPeek of Boise Idaho, and Jacquie Cano (Phil) of Boise, Idaho; as well as her grandchildren, Adrian Baisch (Greg), Amy Christensen (Ken), Lisa Mecham (Michael), John Mecham, Scott McPeek (Rachel), Beth McPeek, and Tabitha Navarro (E); as well as seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held for Evelyn on Saturday, November 7, 2009, in Pocatello at the Cornelison Funeral Chapel, 431 North 15th Ave. The family will begin receiving friends at 10 a.m., and the service will begin at 11 a.m. The service will be directly followed by a cavalcade to the Preston City Cemetery, where Evelyn’s ashes will be interred.
All arrangements are under the direction of the Cornelison Funeral Home. Online guest book and condolences available at www.cornelison.com   and will be shared at the memorial service in November.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to the Ethel E. Redfield Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of Evelyn. The contact information for the foundation is: 921 South Eighth Ave., Stop 8050, Pocatello, Idaho 83209-8050.