Born Evelyn Lincoln on August 12, 1919 in Ponemah, Illinois, to the late Roy A. and Maggie T. (nee-Martin) Lincoln, Evelyn a retired independent insurance agent, moved to Port Charlotte from Monmouth, Illinois in 1981, and only recently relocated to North Port. She was a member of Port Charlotte United Methodist Church in Port Charlotte, the Federation of Republican Women of Charlotte County, FL, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) Mildred Warner Washington Chapter, and American Legion Post 136 Auxiliary, both in Monmouth, IL; and former member of B.P.O. Elks Lodge 2153 Auxiliary in Port Charlotte and Altrusa International.

She is survived by 2 children, a daughter Emily Kay (husband Howard) Clark of Naples, FL, and son Richard R. Merz of North Port, FL; one sister, Luetta Hatfield of GA, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Maggie, and a sister, Jeanette Donlan; and husbands Glen R. Merz in 1964, Darrell M. Goldie in 1987, and James C. Rugg in 2003.