Evelyn Mae Kohler

Evelyn Mae (Leaf) Kohler, age 92 of Ellensburg WA, passed away on March 15, 2025, with her family by her side. Evelyn was born on December 13, 1932, on the family's farm in Custer, WA to Charles Albin Leaf and Esther Dagmar Johanson. Her family moved to Bellingham in 1934 and settled in the York district. She attended Lincoln Grade School, Whatcom Junior High School, and Bellingham High School, graduating in 1950. Evelyn attended Western WA College and Bellingham Business School.

In 1955, Evelyn married her high school sweetheart, Donald Kohler. Evelyn and Don were married for 62 years, prior to Don's passing in 2018. They had 4 children, David (Karen) Kohler of Bothell, Ronald (Cinda) Kohler of Ellensburg, Randal (Robin) Kohler of Bothell, and daughter Diane Kohler Parisio of Ellensburg; 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Evelyn is survived by her 4 siblings, Esther (Robert) Higley, Joseph (his late wife Isabel) Leaf, Dorothy (her late husband Wayne) Young, and Donald (his late wife Jeanne) Leaf.

Music was a large part of Evelyn's family as her father purchased a piano when he was a young man. Evelyn shared her parents' love of music, took piano lessons for many years and sang frequently with her three sisters in church. Her school years were also full of performances, both at school and church. She had fond memories of her time in school choirs and as a high school pep song leader. In junior high Evelyn sang in a special choir called the Double Trio, that sang at local events and entered numerous competitions.

Throughout her life, Evelyn was an avid volunteer. She spent many years involved in the Jaycees, Scouting for the boys, and 4-H with Diane. She was very active in both the Alderwood Elementary and the Shuksan Middle School PTAs and was a Golden Acorn award recipient for her service. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, baking, thrift shopping, and reading.

When she and Don moved from Bellingham to Yakima in 1977, she took up golfing (Yakima Elks Lodge #318). She joined the women's division, helped plan golf events including a highlight event every year working with young golfers in the junior golf program. Evelyn and Don took many golf trips with friends and enjoyed California, Arizona and Hawaii.

Evelyn enjoyed many activities with family and friends for the next 41 years. She attended events at the museum often and enjoyed the Treasure Questers Antique Club where her love of antiques became one of her hobbies. She would find many old and distressed pieces of furniture and spend countless hours restoring dressers, tables, chairs and cabinets into beautiful pieces that the family still enjoys.

In 1987 Evelyn joined the Woman's Century Club of Yakima. She held several leadership positions including two terms as President. The numerous activities of this organization kept her busy in various departments such as the Garden Department, the Antiques Department, and the Literary Department. She and Don assisted with beautification projects at the vintage home and volunteered to work on many of the Club's fundraisers.

Later in life Evelyn began a new discovery, that of writing songs. One was a piano love song for her husband Don, called "Love is Forever." The other was a Christmas piano song called, "Song of Angels." She would wake in the middle of the night when tunes and words came to her. She would get up and write a few words and return to bed. With the help of a music educator, her words and music were put on paper and subsequently published.

Evelyn attended the Champion Street Baptist Church and then Northwest Baptist Church in Bellingham and subsequently became a member of the Englewood Christian Church after she moved to Yakima.

Her grandchildren, Keesha (Kohler) Poyer, Keeley (Kohler) Lange, Dan Kohler, Andrew Parisio, Lindsey (Parisio) Schwab, Jenny (Kohler) Nau, Adam Kohler, Renee (Kohler) Hermes, Katie Kohler, and Aaron Kohler and great grandchildren, Reegan, Keeana, Jereson, Revel, McKenzee, Delanee, Adam, Kaia, and Tyne have all been blessed by Evelyn in some way.

Services will be held privately with Evelyn's family at a later date. To share a memory, email the family at kohlermemorial@gmail.com or sign Evelyn's online guestbook here on our website.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg.