Evelyn Donnell McNamara

Evelyn Donnell McNamara, age 90, passed away peacefully while in the hospital January 27, 2025 in Foley, AL. after a brief illness. She was a longtime resident of Spanish Fort, AL. 

Mary Evelyn was born on Valentine’s Day in 1934 and all her life, she felt really special about being a Valentine’s baby. She was born and raised in Lebanon, TN. She attended college at Union University in Jackson, TN. and then graduated from Vanderbilt University with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Music. She earned her Master’s degree from Florida State University and she taught mathematics for 27 years at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL. She enjoyed her career and working with her students immensely. She lived in the Chicago area for much of her adult life and ended up meeting her future husband, Bob McNamara there. They married on Christmas Day in 1985. She was always ready for a new adventure, and together they moved to the sunny south and landed in Daphne, AL in 1994. They enjoyed a good life together, until his untimely death in 1998.

Evelyn enjoyed the arts and had a keen appreciation for music and was an accomplished pianist. She had a great assortment of books and you could often find her reading a spy novel or a murder mystery.  She was a world traveler and had visited Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Europe and the Middle East. She experienced a lifetime of adventures. Evelyn was also an avid bridge player and played in many local tournaments. She met her subsequent companion, Arthur Meyers while playing bridge in Fairhope, AL. They played three times a week for many years. In 1995 she succeeded in winning First Place in New Orleans at the (NABC) North American Bridge Championship and she received her Life Master Certificate in 2005. Her mother taught her how to knit and crochet and she was very talented at both. She was always eager to get to the beach and soak up some warm rays of sunshine and smell the salty air. The sound of the waves crashing onto the shore was so soothing to her. In her later years, she joined a ladies walking group in her neighborhood in Spanish Fort and looked forward to walking every day. Evelyn enjoyed life and had many caring friends. 

Evelyn is survived by her devoted nephew, David Tinsley Donnell; her caring niece, Rebecca Donnell Vieira; her great nieces, Laura (Shannon) Dickey, Hillary Donnell, Isabella Donnell, Kristen (Robert) McCafferty and two great-great nieces and a great-great nephew. 

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Loy Evelyn Donnell and Ralph Tinsley Donnell; her brother, William Tinsley Donnell; her husband, Robert O. McNamara; her companion, Arthur Meyers and her great nephew Nicholas Scott Rackley. 

Evelyn’s infectious smile and generous nature will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her legacy of love, kindness, and resilience will continue to live on in the hearts of her family and friends. 

There will be a celebration of life for Evelyn held at a future date for family members. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to local charities of your choice with emphasis on educational charities.