Evelyn Marie McNeill Scott

Evelyn Marie McNeill Scott was the second of five children (four brothers) born to John Alfred and Vassie McNeill. Evelyn and her brothers were raised in Florala, Ala.

After graduating from high school in 1945, Evelyn saw a poster recruiting Navy Department secretaries. She passed the Civil Service Exam and, not knowing a soul, headed to Washington, D.C.

Evelyn was assigned to the Naval Annex Building and her boss was Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd. Close to her building was Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon — what a view!

One of her jobs was acting as a congressional liaison between the White House and the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Evelyn marveled at how her small naval ID badge was all she needed to go into the White House, which she did weekly.

In 1946, Evelyn met a handsome sailor from Manitowoc, Wis., named Karl Scott (Scotty). They were married in 1947.

After he was assigned to Morocco for a year, Karl convinced Evelyn to return to his home state of Wisconsin, where he attended college and began his teaching career. Although she never quite got used to the cold and snow, Evelyn somehow acclimated and embraced raising their three children (Odell, Catherine, Sally) in West Bend, Wis.

Evelyn loved volunteering at her children’s schools and was involved in Scouting, Sunday school and sports, doing whatever she could to be helpful.

Evelyn’s love of books led her to earn an associate’s degree in library science. As her children grew, Evelyn became a teacher’s aide at several West Bend schools. She loved leading story hour at the West Bend Library.

After retiring in 1987, Evelyn and Karl moved to Indio, Calif., where they spent 22 years together. They loved volunteering at JFK Hospital, the McCallum Theatre and celebrity golf tournaments. It was a great place for their children and grandchildren to visit and to enjoy the warm weather and mountain views.

In 2017, after being widowed for seven years, Evelyn moved to Grafton, Wis., to be closer to family. For Evelyn, the past seven years had been filled with making new friends, reconnecting with old friends and discovering her love for anything miliary. She dusted off her naval ID badge, which had been in a scrapbook for 70 years, and began talking about her life experiences.

Evelyn flew to Washington, D.C., on the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight in September 2019, accompanied by her granddaughter Sarah. Evelyn also flew on one of the Capri Dream Flights in a vintage biplane.

Last year, Evelyn participated in the FlagDay program in Waubeka, Wis., as a guest of honor, speaker and part of the parade. Evelyn loved visiting with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Evelyn is survived by her three children, Odell (Bobbi) Scott, Catherine Scott (David Russell) and Sally (Carl) Hader; six grandchildren, Sebastian (Norma) Onate, Marcel Onate, Amelia (Ben) VonKennel, Steven (Yekina) Hader, Sarah (Zachary) Prohuska and Andrew (Martheya) Scott; and nine great-grandchildren, Moira Onate, Madeline and Charlotte VonKennel, Mateo and Luca Hader, Henry and Quinn Prohuska and Catherine and Dorothy Scott.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband Karl and four brothers, Floyd, Odell, Manuel and Harold.

A celebration of life service will be held on Monday, July 22, at 3 p.m. at Village Pointe Commons in Grafton, where Evelyn resided for the past seven years.

Evelyn’s final resting place will be next to her husband Karl Scott at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

The family would like to thank all of Evelyn’s dedicated caregivers and the staff at Village Point Commons, along with her wonderful team at Horizon Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, consider a memorial to the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight (www.starsandstripeshonorflight.org).

Eernisse Funeral Home in Cedarburg is proudly serving the Scott family.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.eernissefuneralhome.com.