Evelyn Ruth Hamrick
April 18, 1923 ~ August 17, 2005
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
EVELYN RUTH “CAT” HAMRICK
Evelyn Ruth “Cat” Hamrick,
a native of Asheville, died
Wednesday, August 17, 2005, in
Mission Hospital as a result of
post-operative heart failure. She
was 82.
Evelyn was the only
daughter of the late Michael
Wellington Hamrick and Verney P.
McLean Hamrick of Shelby, whose
former residence is located at 565
Haywood Road, West Asheville.
She was sister of the late William
H. Hamrick of Arden.
Evelyn was a graduate of
Lee H. Edwards High School and
briefly attended Mars Hill College.
Later entering the Plonk School of
the Creative Arts, she studied
literature, voice and music, and
became known for her excellence
at the piano and organ keyboard
with both popular and classical
arrangements.
Drawn by career
opportunities she moved to
Washington, DC, where she was
employed as a switchboard
operator for the Bell Telephone
System. Later she returned to
Asheville to continue her career as
switchboard operator, advancing to
engineering clerk as Southern Bell
became automated, eventually
retiring after more than 40 years of
service.
After retirement and until
her death, Evelyn actively pursued
self-education in literature, music,
religion and sociology while doing
volunteer work at Asheville’s
public libraries. She was kind and
benevolent, regularly contributing
to numerous foreign and domestic
social welfare charities. Although
not an activist, her views on
religion, social reform, women’s
health, rights and equality were
decades ahead of those generally
held in the South.
At her request, no funeral
or graveside services will be held.
Flowers may be placed at her
gravesite at Forest Lawn Memorial
Park, Enka.
Michael Hamrick of
Portland, OR, survives as
next-of-kin.
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Although we were distantly related, I never knew Evelyn personally until recent years. She was a sweet, lovely person, and I wish I could have known her better and longer. She touched many lives and will be remembered by more people than she could ever have imagined.
Goodbye, Dear Friend!