Early on December 5, Evelyn Hales passed away peacefully at the age of 91, after a long struggle with dementia.
Evelyn went by “Patsy” as a child and to most of her family, with friends picking up the name “Evelyn” later.
Her life’s journey began on September 24, 1932 in Mojokerto, a city in Java, Indonesia, known at the time as the Dutch East Indies. With her older sister, Peggy, Patsy and her parents, Willem and Peggy Jansen, spent her childhood years moving from Indonesia back to the Netherlands where her father had lived most of his life, to Caracas, Venezuela, and finally to North Carolina where she became a naturalized citizen in 1952 at the age of 20.
Patsy attended St. Genevieve of the Pines High School in Asheville, NC, making her first American friends there, and studied at Greensboro Women’s College (later UNC- Greensboro). During this time Patsy met John B. Dalton, Jr., and his family, who all became lifelong friends. She and John married in 1952 at the Basilica of St. Lawrence, a place she loved to visit in later life, and remained together until his passing in 1972.
At an early age, Patsy developed a deep love for opera and classical music, and all kinds of dance, especially ballet. One of her favorite pieces of music was Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra, long before it ever became known as the theme to 2001: A Space Odyssey. In later life, one could always hear the sounds of Peter, Paul and Mary, The Beatles, Emmy Lou Harris, Johnny Cash, Elton John, or The Bee Gees coming from her home.
Patsy lived her life in service to others, marked by years of volunteering at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Asheville, Wright’s Refuge and later, Caring House, in Durham. She was an inspiring Girl Scout Leader to the girls in Troop #71, and filled the family garage with cases of Girl Scout cookies serving as Neighborhood Cookie Chairman for several years.
Fondly known as one of the “most organized people on the planet”, she worked at what was known then as the Research Triangle institute, before spending many years in administrative roles at Duke University and then in the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Duke Hospital. Her last job - perhaps her favorite - was assisting her son, Jay, with reservations and management of his Wrightsville Beach parasailing business.
One could always tell she had a deep love of animals, with the presence of one or more beloved cats, dogs, guinea pigs or rabbits that shared her home. Her beautiful calico cat, Felina, misses her from her new home where she is lovingly cared for.
But Patsy’s true love and mission in life was her dedication to her children: Cathy Dalton, Carol Ellen Dalton (deceased), Libby Dalton Averett (deceased) and her husband, Vernon Averett, and Jay Dalton and his wife, Carol. Her grandchildren, Jansen Averett Ellis, Lindsay Averett Abell, Claire Dalton, and Chloe Dalton held very special places in her life and heart. Her fun-loving nature was legendary, playing active roles in every aspect of their lives -- smiling with pride at every dance and piano recital, and cheering at every football, basketball, or soccer game. She never missed an opportunity to support their hopes, passions, and dreams.
We all love and will forever miss our Mom, Oma, Amo, and her sparkling presence in our lives.
The family will hold a private celebration of Evelyn’s life on December 27th.
If anyone is moved to make a gift in her memory, please do so to
The Elizabeth Dalton Averett Foundation, 108 Dalmeny Drive, Cary, NC 27513