CAPE ELIZABETH – Evelyn Banks, 64, of Rand Road, Cape Elizabeth, died unexpectedly March 24, 2005, at a Portland hospital. Evelyn was born in Bangor, a daughter of Reginald and Arline Booker Groff She was educated in the Portland schools. She also graduated from the Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute. She worked at the Portland City Hospital and the Barron Center. She did private duty and also worked at Seventy Five State Street. As a nurse she specialized in geriatrics and loved working with these patients. She was a people person and a humanitarian. She was a person who was able to give of her devotion, sense of humor, humility, kindheartedness and never expected anything in return. She was a member of the Elm Street United Methodist Church, where she was a trustee, chairperson of the Worship Committee, coordinator of Liturgists and Greeters, served on the Staff Parish Relations Committee, the Missionary Circle and the Methodist Adult Club. She was also associated with the Salvation Army Portland Citadel Corps for most of her life. She loved gardening, particularly tending her roses. She also loved reading and creative writing and was presently a member of the Mix n’ Mingle Square Dancing Club. She met her husband while dancing at Sunset Squares. She was predeceased by a sister, Esther Ross; a brother, Reginald Groff; and sister-in-law, Joann Groff. Surviving is her husband of 11 years, Richard A. Banks of Cape Elizabeth; her five children, Daniel Smith of Portland, Robert Smith of Portland, Captain Evelyn Clark and her husband, Tim, of Tartu, Estonia, Mary-Kay Smith of Chisinau, Moldova, Katherine Simms of Portland; four stepchildren, Karen Matthews of Owls Head, Linda Onnen of Loveland, Ohio, Susan Wright of Yarmouth, Paul Banks of Durham; one brother, Major William Groff of Sandia, N.Y.; and a sister, Violet Kellam of Norway; 19 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren. Visiting hours will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, at the Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland. Funeral services will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, at the Salvation Army Portland Citadel Corps, 297 Cumberland Avenue, Portland. Interment will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, at the Forest City Cemetery in South Portland. Contributions may be made to The Elm Street United Methodist Church, 168 Elm St., South Portland, ME 04106 or the Salvation Army Corps, Tartu, Estonia. Checks may be made out to Richard A. Banks, 10 Rand Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107.
EVELYN BANKS
