Eva Silas

Eva Christene (Orchard) Silas

20 May 1954 – 17 April 2024

Eva Christene was born on May 20, 1954 in Spanish Fork, Utah to Alvin Gene and Eva (Hill) Orchard.

Eva to soon be 70, passed away peacefully in Murray, Utah on April 17, 2024.  She had many health challenges that started when she was about 3 years old.  Heavenly Father welcomed her back home, there to enjoy her reunion with her parents that she missed dearly and her sister Sharon.

As a young child she enjoyed the times when her older sister Karen would take her to Lorin Farr Park in Ogden and play on the slippery slide and enjoy the outdoors.  She would climb up to the top and side down with great joy.  One time the family was there Eva hurried to the top but as she sat down she sat on the little rail, lost her balance and fell to the ground hitting her head on cement, her mother rushed over and picked her up, the older sisters were afraid, the manager of the park came over and told Eva’s mother she would care for the girls while she took Eva to the hospital.  Eva had a broken leg and arm, lost her sight and one kidney.  This was the start of her health challenges.  It wasn’t long before she started to have seizures.

At about 8 years old Eva was enrolled at the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind.  She made many friends there and seemed to enjoy school.  There were programs like fishing that the Red Cross and other organizations would take them on, and she loved her fishing pole and always wanted her sister Karen to go with her.  She loved the picnic lunches and catching fish was her favorite thing to do.

Eva met the love of her life, Vince Anthony Silas at the School for the Blind.  Years later, being excited to start their new lives together the two were married for Time and All Eternity in the Jordan River Temple on June 15, 2002.  Her membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a blessing to Eva.  She was so happy when her Bishop called her to serve in the Primary.  Not being able to have children of their own, she always felt blessed to be able to serve the children in the Murray 8^th Ward.  She loved them all.  She had a testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and loved the Gospel.

Another event she loved to do was going to the Susan G. Komen Run/Walk for the cure.  Many friends would take her.  One year she was the last one over the finish line and the cheers from all the other runners made her day as they welcomed her with loud cheers and hugs.  It made her day and a Dream come true!!!

Having to have a guide dog for Vince, Eva wanted a dog of her own.  They both had a soft spot for their furry friends.  Lucky and Freeway were Eva’s.  Willy, Packer and Corvette were Vince’s.  They always treated each one like the valuable family members they were.  Eva missed her Lucky when he passed away, so Freeway joined their little family. 

Vince took them for walks every day when Eva was unable to.  Corvette would let Vince know when Eva was having a seizure which was a blessing for the two of them.

They have had many friends throughout their life and appreciated all that has been done for Eva; taking her to doctor’s appointments, hospitals and visiting her in their home, the hospital and rehabs, which were her home for the past months. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Sharon and others.

Eva is survived by her husband, Vince, sister and brother-in-law Karen and Rick North, aunts Jean Hill and Mary Partridge, nieces and nephew, Jeremy Bisseger, Jana (Callan) Salmon, Jodie (Bruce) Buckner, Jennifer (Paul) Kekaca, Jackie and many greats.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at the Murray 25^th Ward Chapel, 160 East 4600 South Murray, Utah, with visitation from 9:30-10:30 prior to the services.

A family luncheon will follow in the cultural hall after the services for family and friends.

Interment will follow at Lindquist Washington Heights Memorial Park, Ogden, Utah, at 2:30 pm

In lieu of flowers donations in Eva Christene Silas name may be made to:  Federation of the Blind, Missionary Fund or an organization of your choice.

“In the end nothing we do or say in this lifetime will matter as much as the way we have Loved One Another!”

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