Evelyn “Evey” Putman, 91, passed away March 8. She was born June 23, 1927 to the late Ephraim Medbery and Helen Whipple Medbery of Griswold, Connecticut. Ten days after graduating from Griswold High School in 1945, she entered the Joseph Lawrence School of Nursing in New London, Connecticut and immediately became a Cadet Nurse in a specialized training program for wartime nursing. Fortunately World War II ended by the time she finished her training in 1948. She practiced nursing (specializing in rehabilitation services) for 40 years at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch and, at age 51, to better serve her patients, she earned an associate degree in occupational therapy at Atlantic Community College in New Jersey.
Evey married John “Jack” Williams Putman in 1949, and several years later the couple moved to New Jersey where Jack obtained a position in his chosen field of metallurgical engineering. Their home was in Rumson for most of their New Jersey years. There they raised three daughters: Mary Lou, wife of John McCarthy, of Springfield, Virginia; Heidi, wife of Andre Slezak, of Fairfield, Connecticut; and Janet Keffer of Griswold. Her beloved husband John Williams Putman died in 2016.
Evey had a profound interest in music which she expressed by choral singing. Most recently she sang in the choir of the Preston City Congregational Church, and for over 40 years she sang with the Monmouth Civic Chorus while living in New Jersey. With that group she traveled to Europe four times, presenting concerts in major cities. In the mid-1990s she was honored by this chorus with a special concert dedicated to her. During her nursing and choral careers, and raising a family with husband Jack, she acted as a dutiful hostess by helping immigrant doctors and nurses become established in their practices in the United States and making them and their families feel at home.
In 1994 Evey and Jack retired to Griswold to inhabit the Medbery homestead. Another aspect of Evey’s creativity emerged in the paintings that she rendered, many of the beautiful Griswold countryside.
Besides her three daughters she leaves six grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Helen and Patrick McCarthy, Dezsö and Eva Slezak, and Emma and Jacob Nelson, and great-grandson Leo McCarthy; sister-in-law Joy Putman Favretti, Jack’s sister; Mary Palmer Medbery, widow of Evey’s brother William “Bill” Medbery; Norma Burns Putman, widow of Jack’s brother Thomas; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Evey’s daughters wish to thank the many loving caregivers for their kindness, devoted attention to Evey and their support to all over the years. They are all honorary Putmans.
Visiting hours were March 12 at Leffler Funeral Home, Jewett City, Connecticut. A service was held to honor Evey March 13 at the Preston City Congregational Church, Preston, Connecticut. Burial took place immediately after the service at the Spencer Cemetery, Griswold, followed by a reception at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Evey’s name to the Preston City Congregational Church Choir.
For more information visit lefflerfuneralhome.com.
