Trudi Evans-Henderson

Trudi Diane Evans was born May 11, 1953 in McAlester, Oklahoma to parents Phillip and Norma Willard. She later became big sister to Terry, who she lovingly referred to as the baby who always got his way. While there was a natural sibling rivalry between the two, she deeply loved her brother and cherished the title of big sister.

At a young age she moved to Oregon with her family where she had a happy childhood in Lebanon. She spent many summers picking strawberries, raspberries and pole beans. She enjoyed using that hard earned money going to drive-in movies and cooling off with a sweet treat at Hasty Freeze. Trudi was a successful student who took her studies seriously. She excelled in the arts and had a true gift for playing the piano. After high school, she spent time in Germany before returning home and marrying the love of her life, Jim.

When the pair weren’t renovating their 1800s farmhouse, they could often be found spending time with family or heading to the Oregon coast. Countless hours were spent with her mom and stepdad on the boat crabbing in Waldport. Often joined by her brother and his family, they enjoyed afternoons (rain or shine) catching, boiling and cracking dungeness- easily the best crab on earth.

Together the couple built a wonderful life co-parenting Jim’s two daughters Heather and Amber, but years of infertility struggles left the couple without a baby of their own. While combing through the classifieds, Trudi stumbled across an ad placing a baby for adoption. After months of waiting, Trudi’s heart was filled when she brought home her new baby, Megan. She always liked to say that it didn’t matter if you carried a child, when they are placed in your arms, they become yours entirely.

While she led a busy life as mother, grain broker, business owner, farmer, made-for-the-movies PTA president (all while holding a seat on the Oregon Grains Commission) she never failed to put others' needs ahead of her own. Trudi and Jim became foster parents to siblings Chauncey, Patrick, Sarah and Jedidiah when they were most in need. While bringing in four half-grown children was a mountainous endeavor, she loved those kids as her own and never backed down from the challenges this brought. Aside from her children and foster children, she was “honorary mom” to her daughters’ best friend (also named) Sarah.

As a mother she pushed her children to strive for success in all they did. Whether this was in their schooling, sports, rodeo or something as simple as making mashed potatoes, she wanted them to reach their fullest potential. This often required a little tough love and some sort of anecdotal saying along the lines of “If you’re not going to do it right the first time, don’t do it at all”, but even when it took 20 times to get something right, she was by their side to help them through.

Sadly, Trudi unexpectedly lost her husband Jim in 2004. This did not stop her from continuing to provide a happy life for her kids. She focused on teaching them skills to be successful in life, which included hours in the kitchen learning to cook and bake. Through her guidance, they are well prepared to carry on the tradition of making her world class Christmas peanut brittle; a recipe passed down from her own mother.

As the kids began to graduate highschool, she returned to college and earned a bachelor’s degree in education. Choosing a career that would allow the opportunity to engage with children came as no surprise to those in her life. Even when faced with unfathomable challenges, she rose above and overcame all obstacles in order to provide for others.

Trudi eventually remarried and moved from Oregon to Kansas. After a few short years of happiness, she was again left as a widow. Trudi threw herself into work as a teacher where children flourished under her instruction. She also took up a second job at Lowe’s where she made many friends and loved chatting with customers. She delighted in her ability to rescue sick plants from the garden center and delicately nurture them back to life. This left her with quite an impressive houseplant collection as well as many outdoor flower gardens.

Trudi developed deep friendships in Kansas that flourished under mutual love of music, arts, food and diverse cultural experiences. She also enjoyed traveling on cruises and learning about the history of places she visited.

Trudi was “Mammaw” to many grandchildren. If it was possible for her to love anyone more than her children, it was her grandkids. She never missed a milestone, birthday or holiday. From many states away she made every event special by sending gifts, cards or an entire box a sweet treats just because. The grandkids are now well stocked with rice Krispy treats, frosting covered animal crackers, legos and more hair bows than an entire cheerleading team could wear.

This love of gifting did not stop with her grandkids. Even when politely declined, she would send ridiculous items that she deemed necessary to be a functioning adult. While this was endlessly annoying to her children, they now possess enough vanilla extract, Texas Roadhouse seasoning and nonstick cooking spray to last for decades to come. She will be smiling down from heaven and saying “I told you so” whenever they reach for that 36 ounces of vanilla or grease up a cookie sheet.

Trudi would surely be devastated if her obsessive love for Christmas was not noted. Her house could always be found bedazzled in thousands of lights, a decoration on every surface and no less than two perfect trees. A new holiday dessert to be made every night (including many batches of her famous peanut brittle). Christmas was her time to shine. She basked in the opportunity to showcase her cooking and baking skills for others to enjoy. And again she was able to give endless gifts. Gifts and food were her love language. Christmas was the embodiment of her soul.

As her honorary daughter, Sarah, said after her passing “…Thank you for helping me see my value when others did not and most of all for creating the most amazing chosen family of incredible people, we would all have been lost without you…”

Trudi was preceded in passing by her parents Norma and Phillip, husband Jim and husband Ron. She is survived by step-father Bob; brother Terry and his wife and children, step-brother Dennis, his wife and children, and step-brother Darren. Children: Heather, Amber, Megan, Patrick, Sarah and Jedidiah and honorary daughter Sarah and their spouses. Grandchildren: Grayson, Lainey, Zachary, Allie, Claire, James, Emilie, Erin, Dustin, Eric, Ryan and Anthony.

Trudi passed away on October 17th, 2024 in Wichita, Kansas. The emptiness left by her absence will be impossible to fill. While time may ease the pain, the void will forever remain. Her legacy will live on in everyone she loved and the lives she touched.