Shears, Evelyn Joyce
Evelyn Joyce Shears, 72, of Hartford, beloved wife of Sundel F. Ormsby, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 4, 2024, at St. Francis Hospital. Born in Pensacola, FL on October 16, 1951, daughter of the late Jim Shears and Elnora Barker, she was raised in Pensacola, FL and was a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, Class of 1969.
Shortly after graduation, she moved to Hartford, CT and took a position at Royal Typewriter and soon after she received an opportunity to work at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford. Evelyn worked as an industrial x-ray technician for 35 years retiring in 2004. While she was at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, the company sent her to Manchester Community College where she received additional training and received her Associates Degree.
Evelyn was one of the first 36 members of First Baptist Church in Hartford, now The First Cathedral in Bloomfield. She was a longtime member of The First Cathedral and was involved in many of the church’s ministries before joining her husband Sundel’s church, Walk in the Light Church of God on Garden Street in Hartford.
She was an active member of the Red Hat Society, Elegant Ladies Chapter, where she served as Queen for 14 years. Under her leadership she organized her chapter under the National Red Society and planned many events and activities including trips, dances, potluck dinners, and fellowship events with other Red Hat Society chapters. She volunteered at Peter’s Retreat in Hartford and at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
After raising her own children, she was blessed with raising five of her grandchildren. Evelyn played a very active role in her family’s lives and was the matriarch of her entire family. Most of all, Evelyn will be remembered as a very outgoing, loving caring person who was always the life of any party. She loved to travel, plan family parties and get-togethers, decorating her home, shopping, and going back to Florida to visit her family and childhood friends.
In addition to her husband, she leaves, Willie Likely of Hartford, Andrea Whitley and her husband Richard of Manchester, and Ortesda Likely of Broad Brook; ten grandchildren, Kirby Whitley of Hartford, Chase Knight of California, Shelby Whitley and her husband Tynail Johnson-ferguson of Windsor Locks, Antonio Likely of California, Antwan Likely of Hartford, Chelsea Whitley of Hartford, Isaiah Likely of Windsor, Cassidy Whitley of Manchester, Evelyn Whitley of Manchester, and Destiny Whitley of Manchester; nine great-grandchildren, Kourtney Mccalla, Ne’ziyah Hernandez, Emir Johnsonferguson, Alenjhade Rowe, Alijah Rowe, O’zion Likely Jr., Alice Likely, Alonzo Rowe, and Rory Ramsay; a sister, Mary Blackman and her husband Donald of Hartford; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. She was predeceased by three brothers, Charles Barker, Leo Shears, and William James Barker; and a granddaughter, Ashley Whitley.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 23, 12 Noon, at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Rd., Bloomfield. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 280285, East Hartford, CT 06128 or by visiting, www.cancer.org/ donate. The family has entrusted the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home with the arrangements. For online condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.