JERI MAY WILKIE EVANS, 94, of Cherokee, Iowa passed away Sunday morning, April 16, 2017 at Accura Healthcare in Cherokee.

Funeral services will he held on Wednesday, April 19th, at 11 a.m. at the Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cherokee. Rev. Eric Wright will officiate. There will be a family prayer service at 10:45 a.m. at the church on Wednesday. Private family burial will be held at a later date in the Cedar Cemetery at Larrabee, Iowa. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the family present from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Jeri was born May 15, 1922 in Cherokee, Iowa, the only daughter of Edwin and Ellen (Nystrom) Wilkie. She attended Webster elementary and Wilson High school, graduating in 1940. She attended AIB classes in Des Moines, Iowa. Jeri was married to Gale S. Evans on September 8, 1941 at San Diego, California. She was an active member of her community; a Girl Scout leader, charter member of the Cherokee Community Theater, longtime member and deaconess in the Memorial Presbyterian Church, past president of Iowa Artists for two terms, violinist with the Cherokee Symphony for 30 years, a member of the Tone Circle, belonged to women's golf league at the Cherokee Country Club. She published poetry in both state and national poetry books; published a children's book as a legacy for her children and grandchildren (a copy is in the Cherokee Library's Children's Dept.) She painted in both oil and watercolor mediums, and entered both in regional and state shows. She was the society editor for the Cherokee Daily Times for several years.

In Jeri's early years, she enjoyed being a Girl Scout leader and loved visiting with shut ins. She and Gale loved to dance and belonged to a couple's bridge club and couple's golf group. Jeri attended summer painting classes in Spencer, Lakes Art Center, and Boone Scout camp. Jeri can be remembered best as a loyal friend.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gale Evans on March 21, 2013

She is survived by three children; Donna (Doug) Staver of Platteville, Colorado; David Evans of Concord, California; Paul (Jan) Evans of Mead, Colorado; seven grandchildren; Jason (Heather) Staver of Mead, Colorado; Amy (Pete) Reichel of Henderson, Colorado; Ryan (Jaime) Staver of Platteville, Colorado; Justin (Michelle) Kalenski of Boulder, Colorado; Neil Kalenski of Boulder, Colorado, Colton and Kelsie Evans of Shingle Springs, California, five great grandchildren; Jack and Charlie Staver of Mead, CO, , Madeline Hall of Meao, CO, , Wyatt and Emma Staver of Platteville, CO, Annika and Hunter Kalenski of Boulder, CO; brother-in-law: Doyle Evans and family of Omaha, Nebraska; sister-in-law: Bonnie (Wayne) Bucy and family of Bonita Springs, Florida; special care giver Donna Halda of Cherokee, Iowa.