Evangeline "Vangie" Booth Gilliam Paul Cone went home to be with her Lord and Savior in Richland, WA on October 19, 2009. She was 85 years of age. Evangeline was born in Onaway, ID on July 24, 1924 to Alfred Jesse and Mayme Amelia Gilliam. Evangeline was named for Evangeline Booth of the Salvation Army and was the eighth in a family of twelve children. Evangeline was later lovingly adopted into the Charles and Emma Paul family of Moscow, ID following her mother's death at age seven. She became the only daughter in a family of four boys. It had been a great joy for Evangeline to maintain contact with each of her living siblings down through the years, both from her family of origin as well as her adoptive family.

Evangeline's early years were spent in the Princeton and Moscow, Idaho areas. She attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse in Eden Valley and graduated from high school in Pullman, Washington. She graduated from NNC, now NNU of Nampa, Idaho on June 4, 1947 with a degree in religion and religious education. It was her privilege, since 1997 to attain "Golden Grad" status of her alma mater NNC.

Following her graduation from NNC, Evangeline traveled in evangelistic work with her brother, Rev. Harold Gilliam, even holding services for her brother, Rev. Harold Paul. She enjoyed telling people that she had two brothers Harold who were Nazarene ministers. Evangeline also held vacation bible schools in various churches across the Northwest District prior to her having a family of her own. She worked with youth as director of the Nazarene Young Peoples Society, as it was called then.

Evangeline married the love of her life Loren Martin Cone on June 9, 1949 in the Moscow, Idaho Church of the Nazarene. They raised two daughters, Paula and Jeannie.

Evangeline was very musically gifted. She learned to harmonize at a very young age and learned to play the piano by ear, being able to pick out melodies and transpose them if need be. She played either the piano or organ in various Nazarene churches down through the years, accumulating over fifty years of loving service. Evangeline also played the accordion, trumpet and vibraharp.

In later years Evangeline worked for the state of Washington as a social worker, helping to place children in foster homes. She had a real heart for placing these children with good families. It was a great privilege for her to help several family members and friends through the adoption process as well. She worked in this capacity for seventeen years until early retirement in 1987.

It was following their retirement that Evangeline and Loren moved to Nampa Idaho. They enjoyed attending and being a part of College Church of the Nazarene in Nampa even though Evangeline had been unable to physically attend for some time. She enjoyed being supportive in many ways through prayer ministry.

Evangeline was preceded in death by parents Alfred and Mayme Gilliam and Charles and Emma Paul; brothers Alfred Gilliam, Harold Gilliam, Dale Gilliam, Theodore Gilliam, Otis Gilliam, Harold Paul, Lawrence Paul, Glen Paul, and sisters Ellen Beattie and Mayme Cooke; brothers-in-law Leroy Flynn, Harry Beattie, Norman Cooke and Clyde Dunlap; sisters-in-law Elda Gilliam and Opal Paul; and granddaughter Whitney Crocker.

Evangeline is survived by her loving and devoted husband Loren Martin Cone, having been married for 58 years and her two loving daughters and their families; Paula Cone and Gene Benjamin of Richland, WA and grandchildren Amber and Josh Truelove of Boise, ID and Justin Benjamin of Richland, WA; Jeannie Cone and Dennis Crocker of Granger, IN and grandchildren Nichole Crocker of Olathe, KS and DJ and Lizzy Crocker of Gardner, KS and Tori Crocker of Granger, IN. Evangeline is also survived by sisters-in-law Edna Flynn of Portland OR; Wilma Gilliam of Potlatch, ID; Ellen Gilliam of Kennewick WA; Grace Paul of Moscow, ID; Betty Paul of Spokane, WA; brothers and their wives, Floyd and Joyce Gilliam of Spokane, WA; Arnold and Dorothy Paul of Yuma, AZ and sisters Marlene Dunlap of Forest Grove, OR; Ruth and Lloyd Bosserman of Lewiston, ID; and Lois and Charles McQuarrie of Everett, WA. Evangeline is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends.

Memorial services will be held at Richland Church of the Nazarene located at 2500 Jericho Road in Richland on October 27, 2009 at 11:00 am. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 915 By-pass Highway in Richland.

We want to thank Dr.Arnulfo Deray at Kadlec Senior Health Clinic and all at Guardian Angel Homes and Tri-Cities Hospice for their compassionate care for Evangeline. It brought great comfort and support to us as a family knowing that she had such wonderful care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Evangeline Cone's name to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Inc., 720 S. Rogers Road, Suite A; Olathe, KS 66062 or to Hospice at the Chaplaincy, 2108 W. Entiat Avenue Kennewick, WA 99336.