Evelyn L. Merrill Minear passed away at her home Monday, January 20, 2014. She was born September 16, 1913 to E.D. Merrill and Irene Merrill in Big Spring, TX. The family moved to Baird, TX and then returned to Big Spring, TX in 1926. Evelyn attended school and worked for three years after completing high school in Big Spring. She attended the first IBM school in Dallas and returned to Big Spring and worked for Cosden Refinery Co. for 16 years.Evelyn married Roy A. Minear of Midland, TX on December 31, 1957, where they resided until his death in 1984, and she continued to reside. They had many years of travel together, a passion Evelyn continued, traveling to many interesting parts of the world. Evelyn was a true “people person” and loved visiting with friends around the world. As a result of friendships made through her travels, she especially enjoyed having young friends visit her from both the Netherlands and Turkey. Evelyn was considered to be a great horsewoman, even possessing the art of riding sidesaddle.She led an active life and was a member of the Presbyterian Church, Tejas Garden Club, 20th Century Study Club, Downtown Lions Club, En Amie Book Review Club, Santa Rita Club, The Petroleum Museum, The Petroleum Club of Midland and was a Honorary Director of West Texas Boys Ranch, where a dormitory home is named after the Minear’s.She is survived by her step-daughter, Peggy Minear Cook of Albuquerque, NM, two step-granddaughters, Shiva Hardee and her husband Rodney Hardee of Albuquerque, NM and Shawn Bransford and her husband Michael Bransford of Santa Fe, NM, six great grandchildren and ten great-great grandchildren.Services are being conducted in the Chapel of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home at 3800 N. Big Spring St. in Midland, TX on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 1:00 p.m., officiated by Reverend Steve Schorr of First Presbyterian Church of Midland. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.Special appreciation is extended to her caregivers, Opal Anders, Frances Ratliff, Nelda Saunders and Latrisha Satterwhite.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Hospice of Midland, P.O. Box 2621, Midland, TX 79702 or West Texas Boys Ranch, 10223 Boys Ranch Road, San Angelo, TX 76904.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
