Evelyn L Metzger's Obituary
Evelyn Louise MetzgerMarch 3, 1928 ~ Sept. 18, 2013 Evelyn Louise Nelson was born to Carl and Nettie (Reifschneider) Nelson in Klamath Falls on March 3, 1928 and passed peacefully at her daughter's home in Boring. A child of the Depression, her family moved multiple times between Portland and Oakland-Bay Area, California. She attended 12 schools before entering Washington HS as a freshman, graduating in 1945. She loved new challenges and held a wide variety of jobs in her teens and early 20's. After attending Lewis & Clark College she was hired in 1951 as a ticket agent for United Airlines where she met the love of her life, Wm. Dean Metzger, of Gresham. They married November 12, 1955 in Portland and traveled the world together. In 1961 they opened Gateway Travel Service and grew their business to 6 travel agencies located in Portland, Beaverton, Eugene, Raleigh Hills, and Salem. By 1981 their business expanded to include San Francisco School of Travel. Evelyn resided in San Francisco 1981-2000, then returned to Portland/Lake Oswego areas to live near her family. Her travel industry career spanned nearly 50 years. Evelyn's travel adventures took her to 6 continents and she sailed on over 50 cruises. She was active in her community, President of the Women's Advertising Club of Portland in 1966-67, member of multiple professional associations, and a guest columnist for the Lake Oswego Review. She made lifelong friends wherever she went and continued her world travels in the years after Dean's death in 1989. Always close to her family, she had wonderful stories to share of her life experiences and adventures. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Evelyn is survived by her daughters Sandi Metzger (Rick McMillen) and Nancy (Stan) Sittser; grandsons Michael (Alexa) and Christopher Patti, Perry and Paul Sittser; step-grandchildren Ian and Makenna McMillen; great-grandsons Harrison and Theodore Patti. Memorial contributions in her memory to American Heart Association are suggested. Interment Forest Lawn, Gresham. Please share your memories.
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