Evelyn Jordan

On April 24, 2024 Evelyn Anna Jordan got her wings and joined her father, Frank Kovacich, mother,
Violet Kovacich, and beloved sister and brother-in-law, Rosie and Tim Crowley, in heaven. Fighting a
courageous battle with cancer, Ev showed her family what it means to be “Butte Strong.” Never
complaining and always looking out for the well being of her precious daughter, Terrie Jordan, Ev
participated in family birthdays and celebrations until cancer took its toll. In the final days,
her whole family kept vigil by her bedside. She was the treasured matriarch of the family.

Evelyn was born to the tight knit Kovacich family of the McQueen addition, Butte Montana in 1929.
She attended Holy Savior grade school and then Butte High. Ev worked at many jobs throughout her
life, but her favorite job was being a mother. Ev never sought the lime light but rather was the
biggest cheerleader for her children, Terrie and Bob. She attended all sporting events they were
involved in, such as the Special Olympics for Terrie and baseball for Bob. On game days she could
be seen running up the sidelines to first base encouraging “Bobby” to make it there safely. She was
Terrie’s champion in encouraging her to run in the Special Olympics and driving her to events
throughout the state. (This alone is a miracle for any who knew Ev’s driving skills!) On that note,
she once drove over The Going to the Sun Highway, by accident! Once on the road, she had to stay
the course and did. (At 5 mph it was a long trip!) She and Terrie were in her Dodge station wagon
with Terrie riding shotgun. Ev was being followed by a mile long parade of cars including a busload
of students who all got out of the bus at the bottom of the hill and gave her a standing ovation.

Ev favorite job outside the family was being a janitress in the Butte school system. Being a proud
member of the Union, she worked for 30+ years cleaning classrooms so that the students would have a
clean place every morning when school started. After her retirement, she and Terrie had more time
for her favorite pastime of fishing at Georgetown Lake. Ev was also an avid bowler and amazed her
teammates at her ability to consistently score in spite of her bum knee and unconventional
approach. Her great grandchildren , Gavin, Lucas, and Zachary Shaw and Nora Beyer, loved spending moments with Grandma Ev and watching her crochet afghans, blankets, dishrags, potholders and various
clothing items. She taught them how to make something out of supplies on hand---an important life
lesson for all.

In 2022, Ev and Terrie made a hard decision. They decided leave their beloved Butte America and
their home on Harvard Ave to move to Arizona to live with her son Bob and his wife, Clarita. After
a lifetime of collecting and saving everything, it was a big job deciding what to bring with them,
not to mention emptying out the house and full basement. Bob, Clarita’s brothers and nephews, Joni
and Doug Sanderson and Holli Soll were instrumental in helping with this epic job. (Bob’s hernia is
healing nicely.)

Ev is survived by her daughter, Terrie, son, Robert and his wife Clarita, granddaughter Jessica
Shaw (Brandon) and their sons, Gavin, Lucas, and Zachary, grand-daughter Krysta Beyer (Chad) and
their daughter Nora. Ev is also survived by her niece, Julie Crowley (Tom) and Julie’s children,
Jessie Radcliff and Christina Radcliff, her first cousins Fred Kovacich (Karen), Marilyn Petritz (Rick)
and Joni Sanderson (Doug) and their families along with many great nieces and nephews. A special mention should be made to Holli Jo Soll, who was like another daughter to Ev.

We say a heartfelt goodbye to our precious Mother Ev. May the skies always be blue and may the sun
shine on your face at that big fishing hole in heaven. We love you.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Special Olympics or Our Lady of the Rockies in Butte Montana.