Craig Roberts shares his mom’s photo and obituary, hoping to get the word out to as many of those who knew her as possible, before her service this Sunday. It tells quite a story of a woman deeply and joyfully involved in her community – a great West Seattle story even if you didn’t know her:

Evelyn Jean ROBERTS
6/26/25 – 11/16/10

While we have lost our mother, America has lost a Patriot. Evelyn “Jean” Roberts, 85, of West Seattle passed away November 16, 2010 after a brief illness. A celebration of her life will be held December 19 (see below).

Jean was born June 26, 1925 in Kalo, Iowa, the last of seven children from parents Francis John Craig & Janetta Mae (Alvord) Craig, who preceded her in death, as did six brothers and sisters: Eva Leona Craig, Laurence Alvord Craig, Aileen Janetta Wynn, Charles Francis Craig, Olive Rosena Schultz & Lois Mae Finkle. Four siblings served during WWII: Laurence, Francis, Olive & Lois. Growing up as a teenager during WWII brought to her a level of patriotism and love for her country that continued throughout her life. After the 1971 death of husband, Wilfred R. (Tiny) Roberts, who also died of service-connected causes, Jean devoted her life over the last 40 years to Veterans’ organizations including countless volunteer hours at The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the USO and the Red Cross.

Just like a scene from “The Grapes of Wrath,” in October 1936 when Jean was just 11 years old, the family packed up their Plymouth, leaving Iowa headed for Seattle, making the 1,700-mile trip in four days, three nights. Following scarce employment, the family moved to Fairbanks, Alaska from 1936-1942. Jean, 15, returned to Seattle to study voice, living with her sister Olive. When WWII broke out, the entire family returned to Seattle for good. Graduating from Garfield HS in the spring of 1942 at 17, Jean loved to sing and entertain, and her career was just beginning.

During the war, Jean, 18, married John Abner Robbins in November 1942 in Coeur d’Alene Idaho, divorcing shortly thereafter. After the war, Mom auditioned for and got a singing job with band leader Wilfred R. (Tiny) Roberts, our dad. After three weeks of working together in nightclubs, our Dad was so jealous of all the attention Mom got singing, he proposed and they married June 27, 1946, the day after her 21st birthday. They traveled throughout the Western States, Montana, Washington and Idaho, performing and entertaining with their band, “Three Satan’s and an Angel.” After five years touring, they settled in the Admiral District of West Seattle, her home for the last 60 years.

She proudly raised her family in Gatewood Hill and Upper Fauntleroy, with her three children attending E.C. Hughes and Roxhill Elementary, Denny Jr. HS and Chief Sealth HS. She served as president or vice-president of the PTA’s of all the schools her children attended.

Widowed in 1971, Jean, age 45, attended South Seattle Community College, graduating with two separate degrees (Accounting & Bookkeeping). During her college years, Mom fell in love with Francis Elmer Mathews of Portland, OR, who brought to our family his son and our brother, John Mathews & his wife Fran and their three children, Bob, Dan & Jim. She and Frances had a wonderful life during their 22 years together, 1971 to his death at 83 November 17, 1993, almost 17 years before the day of Mom’s passing. They traveled the country, all 50 states, searching for the perfect retirement location, deciding there was no place like home in West Seattle. Mom was born a leader and made an imprint on West Seattle. She was president of her Condo Association, president of the American Legion Post 160 Auxiliary, president of VFW and many other organizations. She unselfishly volunteered herself and devoted countless hours to helping others, including organizing the West Seattle Grand Parade sponsored by American Legion Post 160 and the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Lincoln Park.

Our mother had a passion for music, loved to sing, and sing she did. The family joke was, who would be brave enough to take the microphone away from her? No one ever did. From the halls of the American Legion to the lunchtime crowd at the West Seattle Senior Center or the Tuesday afternoon crowd at the now closed “Corner Inn,” Mom loved to sing, often singing with three or four different bands. If there was a band, she had her song book with her, knew all of the keys, and when she said “hit it guys”, they did and she did. She brought music to life thru her lips (as my Dad would say: “Like an Angel”) and entertained thousands at local USO shows, and local nightclubs and lounges.

In the last three years, our family has been blessed with having our Mom loved by her partner in life, Glenn Burton. “Saint Glenn,” as we affectionately call him, has wined and dined and danced our mother during the last years of her life. From weekly jaunts to the bingo halls of Muckleshoot Reservation to Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center on Friday nights, they had an exciting and full life. It was hard to imagine our Mom was 85 when we lost her for she was still full of wisdom, intellect and a smile. We cannot thank Glenn enough for his patience, understanding and care during her last few months. Glenn and his son Michael will miss her. She will also be missed by her children Patti (Scott) Oquist, Andrea (Cris) Crisler, Craig (Charlotte Brewster) Roberts, step-son John (Fran) Mathews, step-daughter Mary Ellen Andrews, grandchildren Bob, Todd, Laura, Jim, Dan, Craig, Colleen, Jim, Julie, Chris & Tyler, and her many nieces & nephews all around Puget Sound. Mom has been called to her final home to sing with the Angels in heaven so, look out God, don’t even try to take her microphone away, she will now be singing not only for you but for all of us remaining here on earth. We love you, Mom.

Please join the family at a Celebration of Jean’s life at 5:00 PM, Sunday, December 19, 2010 at the American Legion Hall, 3618 SW Alaska Street in West Seattle. We’ll see you there and sing a few songs as we remember her fantastic life. Mom would have requested any remembrance be made to any Veterans organizations, such as the USO, American Legion or Red Cross.