Evelyn Mary Brenton January 10, 1928 - August 13, 2026

Evelyn Mary Brenton

January 10, 1928 ~ August 13, 2026

Some people leave behind possessions. Evelyn Brenton left behind beauty.

Evelyn Mary Brenton passed away peacefully on August 13, 2026, at the age of 98. She spent nearly a century creating, sharing, and celebrating the things that brought joy to others.

Born in Salinas, California, on January 10, 1928, Evelyn built a life defined by creativity, curiosity, generosity, and love. She married Clyde Wesley Brenton in June 1946, and together they built a family and a life filled with adventure, hard work, and countless cherished memories.

While Evelyn worked professionally as a bookkeeper and office manager, her true vocation was making the world around her a little brighter. An artist at heart, she taught painting classes, studied photography, decorated wedding cakes, practiced archery, hunted, camped, gardened, traveled, and never stopped pursuing new interests. If she found something fascinating, she wanted to learn how to do it.

For more than sixty years, Atwater was her home, but her influence extended far beyond any one place. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel special. Whether through a hand-crafted gift, a thoughtful gesture, a beautifully decorated holiday table, or simply sharing time together, Evelyn found ways to let people know they were loved.

Everyone who knew Evelyn knew she was generous with both her time and talents. She was famous for her Christmas decorations, often filling every room of her home with a Christmas tree during the holiday season. Visitors frequently found a puzzle in progress, sweets on the counter, and an open invitation to sit, visit, and stay awhile. She loved art, crafts, gardening, travel, bingo, puzzles, family gatherings, and Christmas. She found joy in creating beautiful things, but the people she loved were always her greatest masterpiece.

Evelyn is survived by her children, Danniel Gehrke, and Kellen and Cynthia Brenton; her grandchildren, Joada and Josh Hoover, and KelLynn and Colby Simms; and her great-granddaughter, CaryLynn Josephine Simms.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Clyde Wesley Brenton; her brother, Eddy “Sonny” Souza; and her sister, Patricia Bertuccelli.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Evelyn’s life at a Rosary on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., and a Funeral Service on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Allen Mortuary, 247 N. Broadway, Turlock, California.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

Evelyn leaves behind a legacy of creativity, generosity, faith, family, and joy. The artwork she created, the gardens she nurtured, the traditions she started, and the lives she touched will continue to bloom for generations to come.