Obituary: Evelyn “Evie” Werthmann, 1935-2012

Evelyn “Evie” Werthmann, a charter member of Mammoth’s Morning Rotary Club and renowned for her culinary skill (if you’ve ever had a bear claw at the Java Joint, you would understand) passed away on Sunday. She was 76.

Evie and husband Paul moved to Mammoth Lakes in 1998 from Detroit, Michigan, where Evie was born.

Evie and Paul were living proof that you should never give up on love. It was her fourth marriage and his third. But to hear Paul talk about Evie, you’d think they were both still teenagers.

When asked how they met, Paul simply said, “Have you seen Fiddler on the Roof? We met through a Yenta.”

The world needs more Yentas like this one.

A beloved mother, grandmother and wife, Evie and Paul had never visited Mammoth before a trip west to see one of Evie’s daughter’s.

Within a day, recalled Paul with a chuckle, they were sending home for the dog.

“For Evie, there was no better place [than Mammoth],” said Paul.

Evie is survived by son Ron Madison and his wife Sally; daughter Diane and husband Wayne Titche; daughter Lisa Ruby and her husband Joe Riel; grandchildren Alex and Chloe Langham, Jennifer and Rachel Titche and Maxwell, Blake, Savannah and Summer Madison.

She was preceded in death by daughter Laura Langham.

As a testament to Evie’s involvement in the community and the good friends she made, a Catholic mass was held in her honor on Wednesday. This despite the fact that Evie was Jewish.

Certain folks have an ability to transcend …

Prior to moving to Mammoth, Evie owned a bakery in the Detroit-area, and the walls of her home were lined with cookbooks. She pursued her passion for cooking ‘til the very end. All the pastries at the Java Joint came from Evie.

Particularly among those locals possessing a sweet tooth, Evie Werthmann will be sorely missed.