Evelyn Lorraine Bear, 87

December 02, 2023

Evelyn Lorraine Bear (nee Leachey) entered into eternal rest December 2, 2023. She was the loving wife of James (Yogi) Bear, who preceeded her in death, and devoted mother of Rick Bear and his wife Gayle, Sharon Race, and Kenneth and Kevin Bear, both of whom also preceeded her in death. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, her loving sister, Sylvia McLaughlin and her brother Jerry Leachey and his wife Rose. Another brother, Larry Leachey, preceeded her in death.

Evy was born in 1936, the daughter of the late Mark and Marion (Shaub) Leachey. She graduated from Lampeter High School in 1954 and was married to Yogi the same year. Throughout her adult life she was employed by Strasburg Bank, Slaymaker Lock Company, Buchwalter Construction and retired from Glenn S. Breidenstine DDS after 20 years of service.

Her joys in life were spending time with her children, reading, gardening, creating greeting cards and having regularly scheduled breakfast outings with her best friends. She was a sweet, quiet woman with a quick wit and a feisty streak that could take you by surprise. During one of their last visits, Rick and Gayle were talking about Christmas coming up. Gayle said that Rick needed to think of something he needed for her mom to get him. When he replied that he didn’t need anything at all, right on cue, Evelyn got a little devilish grin and she suggested “Well, you DO need a haircut.” And she wasn’t wrong.

The last two years of her life were spent doing puzzles, drawing and coloring and enjoying the fellowship of other residents at St. Anne’s Retirement Community. She was safe and secure there and was able to spend time growing even closer to her sister Sylvia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to SARC Benevolent Fund, 3952 Columbia Avenue, Columbia, PA 17512 in her honor.