Jenkins, Lana Beth Evans (1948-2006)

JENKINS, EVANS, CALLERY

Posted By: Laura Evans Schnabel (email)
Date: 2/9/2007 at 18:45:35

Claremont Courier (CA) March 18, 2006

Laughter and compassion are the legacy left by Lana Beth Evans Jenkins, who died unexpectedly at hone on Monday, March 6, 2006 due to heart problems. She was 57.

"She put everyone before herself," said her daughter Amber. "She was a sweet and gentle soul and kind to everybody."

Born in Webster City, Iowa on November 30, 1948, Ms. Jenkins was the daughter of Ivan and Lauretta Callery Evans. After graduating from Webster City Senior High School in 1967, she explored a major in communications at Iowa Central Community College and soon found her passion for painting at the Patricia Stephens School.

This passion led to job at the school in Des Moines, Iowa and to her future husband Kevin Jenkins, who was studing medicine at a nearby college.

"She was a gentle and warm person,"he said. "She never got angry."

They married on October 24, 1972 and, after he finished his training in Des Moines, they oped to move to California away from all the snow. They made Claremont their home and raised their two children, Brandon and Amber. The couple later divorced, but Mr. Jenkins remembers the fun times.

"We lost a dog once and went to animal pound to find it," he recalls with a chuckle. "So, they bring home this dog they were sure was the one we lost. Two weeks later, the first dog shows up on our doorstep. Hey, we kept them both."

Ms. Jenkins kept her creative juices flowing by working as a jeweler and floral designer. But, her greatest vocation was her two children. Her high point was the graduation of Amber from Orange Coast College and Brandon from San Diego State, Mr. Jenkins said.

Amber remembers celebrating holidays as an all-out event for the Jenkins family.

"Holidays were really important to her," Amber remembered. "Christmas was her favorite time. She'd get a flocked tree and put a million balls on it."

Ms. Jenkins' passion for celebrating holidays was equal to her passion for people. Friend Pam Schulz said she only knew Ms. Jenkins for three years while taking a painting class together, but she felt like she knew her all her life.

"She had a warming and loving spirit and never talked ill of anyone-anyone," Ms. Schulz said. "I remember her laughter; it was contagious."

Ms. Schulz recalled her friend would paint something completely different that didn't look like anyone else's.

"She was happy to create an original and would say, "Well, that's good enough for me," Ms. Schulz said.

Amber said her greatest dream was to buy her mother a painting studio-and had been saving money for it when her mother died.

"She taught me so much," Amber said quietly. "I learned so much from her."

Ms. Jenkins is survived by her son, Brandon Jenkins of San Diego, CA; her daughter, Amber Jenkins, of Claremont, CA ; her brother Charles Evans of Webster City, Iowa; her sister, Laura Marie Schnabel of Windsor Heights, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

She was proceeded in death by her parents and nephew, Kirk Hoover.

Ms. Jenkins was interred on Saturday, March 11, 2006 in Graceland Cemetery, located in Webster City, Iowa. A memorial service will take place on Sunday March 19, 2006 at 3p.m. at the church she attended in Claremont, St. Luke Lutheran.

Services were held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Webster City, IA on March 11, 2006. Internment was in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City,IA.