Marty was born in Estherville, Iowa on March 6th, 1941, to Dr. Oscar H., and Marcella Ersland Miller, a nurse. Her mother died when Marty was a baby and the family moved to several places including Seattle, where her father met and married Roberta Eldridge, an artist. They lived in Palo Alto, California for four years and in 1951 settled in Roberta’s home town, Oklahoma City, OK.
She graduated from Classen High School in 1959 and enrolled in Mills College in Oakland, California to study Early Childhood Development. There she met Geoffrey (Jef) Evans. They married and moved to Mercersburg, Pennsylvania where Marty gave birth to Craig and Stacy; then to Virginia where Kirsten and Eric were born. In 1973 they moved to Minneapolis and in 1977 moved to Brunswick, Maine. There Marty enrolled in Portland School of Art, earning a B.F.A. in Metalsmithing.
Along the way, she applied her artistic talents to various projects in and outside the home. Her creativity and skill were evident all around her. She was a voracious reader, loved to design and renovate her homes, enjoyed gardening, and most of all spending time with her family and friends.
She had an infectious sense of fun and gave the gift of her affection and attention generously. She inspired us by the strength with which she faced difficulties. People were drawn to her warmth and honest, open, unassuming manner. She was herself, without apology, yet without ego. And by being herself, allowed others to be themselves. She lived in Brunswick until 2009, when she and Jef moved back to the town where they first met, Oakland, California.
It was her decision, and her commitment, to be at home raising her children and supporting her husband. She was, and will continue to be, the light at the center of the family.
Marty is survived by her husband Geoffrey, her four children, Craig and his wife Kathleen Harris, Stacy and her husband Ruben Puentedura, Kirsten Evans-Orville and her husband Keith, and Eric and his wife Victoria Foster, and her five grandchildren, Daniel and Nathan Doody, Rachel and Liam Evans-Orville and Claire Puentedura, brother O. H. Miller, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and dear friends.
In accordance with her wishes, her memorial will be held mid-summer in Maine. Gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to: Maine College of Art’s annual scholarship program at Maine College of Art, 522 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 or to Mills College in Memory of Marty Evans, Mills College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 5000 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94163.
obits@timesrecord.com
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