Evelyn Etsuko Carter

Evelyn Etsuko Carter passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 8, 2016 at the age of 96 in Salt Lake City after prolonged heart ailments. She was born Evelyn Etsuko Koshio to Taneji and Shime Koshio November 28, 1919, in Fort Lupton, Colorado. She married Harry Nishi February 5, 1942 in Fort Lupton. They had 4 children Harvey, Dean, Gary (deceased 1947) and Ellen. Evelyn and Harry and family moved to Kemmerer, Wyoming in 1947, when they took over proprietorship of the Corner Café from Harry’s mother, “Mama” Nishi. Evelyn was proprietor of the Corner Café for many years, including after Harry’s death in 1966, and later assumed ownership of the Corner Bar in addition. She married Sam Carter September 5, 1973.

Evelyn was a long-time businesswoman in Kemmerer, and continued the legacy of being a hard-working, caring, community-focused person that was started by Mama Nishi. Evelyn left the Café and Bar business in 1976, after which she worked at Little America, Utah University Hospital as the assistant baker, and cook at the Kemmerer Senior Citizens’ Center. Evelyn and Harvey later reopened and operated the café until Evelyn’s retirement in1995.

Evelyn took pride in her accomplishments as a successful business woman. She took tremendous pride in her children and her greatest joy was in her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She took particular joy in interacting with all Harvey’s, Dean’s and Ellen’s friends from high school and after. She was a caring guide to her nieces and nephews. She was a great people person and had a special skill in interacting with people, always eager to enter into conversation and learn about their backgrounds. Evelyn really loved Kemmerer and all the wonderful people in this great little Wyoming town. She cherished all her friendships.

Evelyn had tremendous skills in her crafts, particularly in knitting and crocheting. She attended seamstress school in San Francisco in her late teens and took exceptional pride in knitting (afghans, sweaters, doll clothes), crocheting (doilies, holiday decorations, dish scrubbers), and sewing. Her greatest joy was in giving them all away (almost everyone she knew got a scrubber or two).

Evelyn is survived by her children, Harvey Nishi (Kemmerer), Dean (Anne-Marie) Nishi (Centennial CO), Ellen Nishi (Doug Farren) (Salt Lake City UT); 4 grandchildren Alison (Dan) Nolan (Denver CO), Brian (Naomi) Nishi (Denver CO), Laura (Boris) Gershman (Misawa Japan), and Shannon Nishi (Chicago IL); and 5 great-grandchildren. Evelyn is also survived by 3 sisters (Grayce Nakagawa, Bessie Palmer, Jeanette Messervey) and

one brother (Tom Koshio). She was preceded in death by son Gary, husband Harry Nishi, and husband Sam Carter plus 4 siblings, Floyd Koshio, Sam Koshio, Gladys Konishi, and May Koshio.

Thank you to Jill and the Pacifica Residence staff, Dr. Baraldi and the Geriatrics Clinic at Utah University Hospital, Debi and the Brighton Hospice staff, Dr. Starr, Tricia, and the South Lincoln Medical Center for all their support and assistance to Evelyn.

A celebration of Evelyn’s life will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 10:00 A.M at Ball Family Chapel in Kemmerer, WY.  Inurnment will follow services at the South Lincoln Cemetery, Kemmerer, WY.  A luncheon will follow the graveside services at the Kemmerer Senior Citizens Center.   Memorial donations may be made to the Kemmerer Senior Citizens Center.