Evelyn Dawn Roberts “Gayle and I are terribly saddened to hear the news of Evelyn Roberts’ passing. Evelyn lived an incredibly long, lively and productive life of nearly 100 years in our wonderful state. She loved and was loved by all who knew her and dedicated herself to the betterment of hardworking people, especially the members of the United Mine Workers of America, which she dearly loved.
She was born and raised in Eskdale and she grew her union roots by spending time with her grandmother, Mother Blizzard, a union activist. She was also the proud wife of a union coal miner and the proud mother of the President of the UMWA. During this incredibly difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with her son Cecil, her daughters, their families, and all of the members of UMWA family that knew her well”.
Joe Manchin Evelyn was born in Eskdale, W.Va. , on Monday, July 7, 1919, to the late Lana and William Harlow. Her family included 11 brothers and sisters: the late Ruth, Edith, Helen, Marie, Bill, Frank, Jim, Marguerite, Ann and Barbara.
Surviving is her brother, Tom. Evelyn was raised and has lived her entire life in the coalfields of West Virginia and is the daughter, wife and mother of coal miners. She was married to Cecil, her beloved husband of 68 years, before his passing in December of 2007 at the age of 91.
Together they raised three children: Becky, Cecil and Lucille. Before marrying Cecil, Evelyn spent a majority of her time working with her grandmother, the legendary Mother Blizzard, a union activist and a close friend of Mother Jones. She is also the niece of Bill Blizzard, who led the Paint Creek-Cabin Creek Strike of 1912 and also led the Blair Mountain March.
She worked in her grandmother’s restaurant, Mother Blizzard’s Restaurant, from the time she was a young girl and would help serve food and drinks to the local coal miners in the area. After living in a company-owned house for several years, she then moved into the house that Cecil built for the family. Cecil used lumber from the company house they previously lived in to build the home, and she has lived there for the past 60 years.
In an interview in 2017, she said she was proud to be a coal miner’s wife. Her husband started working in the mines at age 16 and was a miner for 48 years. She also stated she’s been provided a good life because of the United Mine Workers of America.
When asked if she ever thought her son, Cecil, would become president of the UMWA, she jokingly stated no. Evelyn is an Associate Member of the UMWA. Evelyn has four grandchildren: Terri Meadows, Kyle Roberts, Tracy Bryant and Missy Hunt.
She also has nine great – grandchildren: Aaron, Brandon, Zachary, Dakota, Nicholas, Caitlyn, Savannah, Kathryn and Ki, and has one great, great grandchild, August. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to UMWA Miners Aide Fund, 18354 Quantico Gateway Drive, Suite 200, Triangle, VA 22172 to the attention of Bob Scaramoczino. Services to be held Friday, February 22, at the Church of God at Dry Branch.
Visitation to be from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., funeral service will begin at 1 p.m., with Darick Biondi. Burial to follow at Kanawha Valley Memorial Gardens Glasgow. Pryor Funeral Home, East Bank, W.Va.
, is honored to serve the Roberts Family. Forward condolences to pryorfh.com.
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