Violet Madean Brown DrydaleEvans went peacefully to be with our Heavenly Father at age 97 on September 12, 2012 in Richland, Washington. She was born January 31, 1915 in Yuma, Colorado to Mabel Varner Brown and Lawrence John Brown. Violet lived her life serving the lord and taking care of her family.
Being the second of eight children, growing up she had the responsibility of taking care of her younger siblings. In her childhood Violet attended a number of one-room schools across Colorado through 8th grade. She helped her family by hiring out to take care of children and do housework, a kind of live-in nanny during the Great Depression.

At age 18, while working at a country store where she boarded and earned $3 a week, she met her husband of almost 50 years, Thomas Joseph Drydale. Soon after, they married in Pueblo, Colorado in 1934. Their early years were spent working as hired hands on farms or dairies and moving almost yearly throughout Colorado, Idaho and Oregon. Violet and Thomas had two children, Violet Rose and Duane Leroy. In 1937, they left Colorado for the last time and moved to Nyssa, Oregon, where they rented a place until they bought their farm. Through hard work and faith, they accumulated over 100 acres of land that they farmed as well as raised pigs, cattle and bees.

Violet was key to their success. She was a hard worker around the house, always cooking, cleaning and canning as well as contributing to the garden and farm. Violet was very active in her lifetime participating in the church and Grange as well as keeping a 1/2 acre garden until she was over 90. She was a skilled seamstress who made over 100 quilts. She loved camping and fishing and was known to out fish many of the best. Violet had a kind and generous soul with a very independent nature. She always had a smile and mischievous spark in her eye, especially when she was teaching and beating her grandsons in Pinochle.In June of 1984 Violet's husband, Thomas Drydale, passed away. She later remarried Cecil Evans who traveled with her and was a great companion for several years until he passed away.

Violet is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Kenneth, Paul, Wayne, Lawrence Bo, and great grandchild Ethan Wood. She is survived by her sisters Gladene Gallup, Lois Jackson, and Betty Campbell, her children Violet Rose "Rosie" Wood Russell and Duane Shirley Drydale, grandchildren Brigetta GaryGaige, Jerald Drydale, Tonya David Bunker, Tina Ronald Platt, Jeff Mya Wood, Twila Wood, Teresa Nastri, along with 17 great and 9 great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be at the United Methodist Church in Nyssa, Oregon on Monday, September 17th from 9 to 11 AM. A memorial will begin at 11 followed by a graveside at Nyssa Hilltop Cemetery and then back to the United Methodist Church for food and a gathering of family and friends.