Evelyn Gengler (Novotny) Crowder

Evelyn Gengler (Novotny) Crowder died peacefully Oct. 3, 2024, after a four-year struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, which she accepted with strength and grace. Evelyn was born Feb. 17, 1936, in Oklahoma City to Leo and Lorine Koelsch Gengler. She spent her childhood on a farm near Perry, Okla., where she attended a one-room country schoolhouse named 4-D and spent many happy hours playing with her older sister along the banks of Black Bear Creek.

When she was 9, her family moved to Oklahoma City and joined St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church where Evelyn attended Rosary School through 9th grade. She then entered the first sophomore class at the newly built Catholic High School (now Bishop McGuinness), graduating in 1953. Shortly after graduation, Evelyn met Rudolph Novotny in the Coronado Club for Catholic singles. They were married one year later after Evelyn completed her freshman year at Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State University).

Evelyn and Rudy raised their four children in the Oklahoma City neighborhood surrounding St. Francis of Assisi Church—the area once affectionately called the “Catholic ghetto,” now known as the Plaza District. Evelyn immersed herself in her children’s lives and the Rosary School community. She was a Cub Scout den mother, Brownie leader and Girl Scout leader. The rest of her time was spent managing rental properties that she and Rudy owned. When her youngest child started kindergarten in 1966, Evelyn took a secretarial job at the Equitable of Iowa Life Insurance Company. She continued in the life insurance business for the next 26 years, working at The Kampf Agency, Estate Concepts, New York Life and Connecticut Mutual. In 1992, Evelyn went to work at the Oklahoma Tax Commission, retiring in 2002.

Evelyn served her church throughout the 1990s as a children’s catechist, St. Vincent de Paul Society volunteer, and Rite of Christian Initiation sponsor. She and Rudy divorced in 1995. In 2002, Evelyn married James E. Crowder and they spent 18 joyful years together until he died in 2020. Evelyn worked alongside James, advocating for legislation benefiting senior citizens and editing a monthly newsletter for the local chapter of National Active and Retired Federal Employees.

Evelyn was a good listener and will be remembered for her deep empathy for troubled and marginalized persons in our society. She was a gifted writer, seamstress and oil painter. She instilled in her children an appreciation for history, the humanities and the arts, especially poetry. For years, she celebrated the birthdays of her family members by writing each a special poem tracing their achievements and activities over the past year. These poems were the hit of every family birthday party.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her sister, Jeanne Willett; and her sons, Steven Novotny and Thomas Novotny. She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Novotny-Anderson (David Lee) and Jane Novotny Moon (K.C.); seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family is grateful for the loving care Evelyn received from Valir Hospice and Concordia Memory Care and Skilled Nursing. A prayer vigil will be held at 6 p.m., Fri., Oct. 11, and Mass of Christian Burial is set for 11 a.m., Sat., Oct. 12, both at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1901 NW 18th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73106. Burial at Resurrection Cemetery will immediately follow the funeral. Memorial donations may be made to the Center of Family Love, 635 W Texas Ave., Okarche, OK 73762.