Evagene Keebaugh

Evagene Keebaugh of Odessa died June 13 at Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake with her family by her side. She was 83 and had been valiantly battling the debilitating effects of a severe stroke since May 2017.

Born in Union Gap, Wash., to Galen and Merle Jones, Evagene was the fifth of seven children. She grew up in Selah, graduating from Selah High in 1952. While living in Seattle following graduation, she met her husband, Gene Keebaugh, and they were married in 1955. They grew their family first with the birth of son, Bill, then daughter, Lynn.

Evagene and Gene lived in several cities up and down both coasts during the course of Gene's career in the Navy and then civil service. Final retirement came while living in Marysville, and they moved to Odessa not long after. She spent the last year of her life in nursing care and assisted living in Moses Lake.

Evagene was a talented seamstress and for many years enjoyed crewel work. She bowled, golfed, loved to go antiquing, read mysteries, and watch her favorite British mysteries and "Antiques Roadshow" on PBS. She was a bingo player extraordinaire, and had uncanny luck at the slot machines as well. Evagene and Gene spent their retirement traveling around the Southwest and other destinations in their RV, and wintering for the past several years with some of the friends met along the way in Pahrump, Nev.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Gene; son, Bill; daughter, Lynn; four-legged buddy, Tramp; sister, Donna Gordon; sister-in-law, Diane Jones; four grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Maurice Jones, Barbara Swanson, Betty DeLorme, Charles (Bud) Jones, and Walter Jones.

The family will have an informal gathering to remember Evagene with relatives and neighbors this summer.

Memorials can be made to an animal shelter of your choice.