Evalyn S. Stephens

Published 11:28 am Monday, November 12, 2018

Evalyn Stephens died Nov. 7, 2018, in her home in Tryon, North Carolina.

Mrs. Stephens, 95, was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, the second child of Sidney Brown and Eva Harkey Brown. She was raised on her Harkey grandparent’s ranch near Carlsbad, New Mexico, until the Depression.

She excelled as a student all her life. She attended Eastern New Mexico State College, majoring in chemistry.

During World War II, she left college to work at the Potash Company of America, where she met her first husband, Philip M May. She put career aside to raise their two daughters, and later returned to work as a research chemist. At that time, she met the love of her life, Clifford A. Stephens.

Evalyn had a lifelong interest in healing arts and alternative therapies. After completing her undergrad degree in chemistry at California State University San Jose, she was admitted to the master’s program in physical therapy at Stanford University in the 1970s, and went on to head a hospital physical therapy department.

As she aged, she sought new therapeutic avenues in which to apply her intelligence and care. She completed a master’s degree in speech and language therapy at California State University Chico, and subsequently provided speech therapy to clients in Placer County, California. 

Her final career was as a reiki master and teacher.

She moved to Tryon in 2008 to be near her daughter and son-in-law.

She was predeceased by her brother, John H. Brown; husband, Cliff Stephens; daughter, Diana May Vogelbaum; and son-in-law, Loyal (Gene) Apple.

She is survived by sister, Myrtle B. Fritschy of Carlsbad; daughter, Marianne May Apple of Columbus, North Carolina; son-in-law, Ron Vogelbaum of Ojai, California; granddaughters, Claire Apple (Marq Singer) of Pittsboro, North Carolina, and Amanda Vogelbaum (Tobias Tune) of Portland, Oregon; niece, Linda Fritschy Rogers (David) of Dallas, Texas; and nephews, David Fritschy (Andree) of Carlsbad and Dee Brown of Las Vegas, Nevada. Her cat, Patsy, has been her beloved companion.

She cherished her team of ACTS home health caregivers, Joyce and the HOCF nurses.

No services are planned.

Asheville Area Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services, Asheville