Barbara L. (Evarts) Jenkins, 93, of Hooksett died May 3, 2015 surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Hooksett on June 21, 1921, she was the daughter of Forrest and Mabel (Dobbs) Evarts. She was raised in Hooksett, graduating from Lincoln Park Elementary School and Manchester Central High School.
During WWII, she worked at the rationing board in Manchester where she met her future husband Ernest. They were married on September 2, 1945. The couple moved to Bedford to raise their step-son and son. They were active in the community including the Unity Club and she was the Bedford Fire Department red phone operator.
She had worked on the family farm and then was employed at Travelers Insurance, from where she retired in the 1980’s. When her husband died in 1981, she returned to her childhood home in Hooksett to care for her mother until Mabel’s death on May 3, 1988.
Barbara will be remembered as a loving and caring grandmother, aunt and mother. Her home was always open to visitors who would enjoy a great cup of tea or coffee along with fun conversations and stories about family and Hooksett. She loved to watch her great-grandchildren, also.
Barbara’s family would like to thank the wonderful nurses at Hillsborough County Nursing Home, especially those on floor B-2 and in hospice, for the tremendous care they provided during her stay. She was predeceased by her husband Ernest Jenkins, Jr., her son Ernest Jenkins III, daughter-in-law Alice Jenkins, and step son Robert Jenkins. She was also predeceased by her siblings Roy Evarts, Clara Neill, Forrest and Russell Evarts.
Family members include four grandchildren, Carol Heald of Bedford, Robert Jenkins Jr. and his wife Marianne of Bedford, Linda Malo and husband Paul of Pembroke, Mary Lou Stone and husband David of North Carolina; seven great-grandchildren, Sarah Heald of Auburn, Ben Heald of Quincy, MA, Laura Jenkins of Merrimack, Alex Jenkins of Merrimack, William Elliott of Bedford, Patrick Elliott of Concord, and Matthew Stone of North Carolina; one great-great-grandson, Henry Aikers of Merrimack; nephews, Forrest Evarts of Deering, Robert Evarts of Wyoming, Russell Evarts of Manchester, Richard Evarts of Georgia, Roger Evarts of South Carolina; nieces, Elizabeth and husband Michael Bunie of Bedford, Judy (Keeler) Szudga and husband Chet of Derry; several cousins.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, May 9, 2015 in the chapel at Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St, Manchester. Burial will be held private, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the NH Alzheimer’s Association, 166 S River Road, Suite 210, Bedford, NH 03110 or to the Faith Baptist Church, 53 Mammoth Road, Manchester, NH 03109.