Shelynn Elizabeth Evans' Obituary
Shelynn Elizabeth Evans (1980-2024)
Shelynn, 43, of West Valley City, Utah, lost a brave 10-year battle to congenial heart failure on February 22, 2024.
She was born in Walnut Creek, California on April 11, 1980 to Lynn and Sherry Evans. In 1982, the family moved to the Salt Lake City region, where she lived the rest of her life. Her dad married Renee Gertsch in 1985, and she lived with them from the fourth grade through her graduation from Granger High School in 1998.
Her best friend growing up was her little brother Jordan, who also lived with their dad and stepmom. She learned how to play his video games, and he learned her love for Chuck-E-Cheese and Showbiz pizza.
Her daughter Britney was born in 1999, who instantly became her whole world, her pride and joy, and the love of her life. She worked a variety of full-time jobs, including as a general manager of a McDonald’s franchisee, to always ensure that Britney’s needs were met.
In 2001 she married Britney’s father, Cesar Ortiz. She lived with his family in North Carolina for a short time, but ultimately returned to her dad and stepmom in Utah. During the following years she worked very hard, and was proud to buy a new condo in West Valley City in 2006, where she could raise her small family, earn supplemental income working from home, and provide a home to many pets.
Her favorite activities were swimming, camping next to lakes that she could swim in, taking her daughter out to eat on weekends, and Sunday drives up the canyon.
When Shelynn was diagnosed with CHF in 2014 and learned it had progressed past an incurable state, the seeming unfairness of such a challenge at her young age became a new emotional battle. The prospects of being unable to work as much, losing the things she worked for, and the loss of her simple pleasures like swimming compounded her tears and many restless nights. Over time she found solace in playing the piano, playing games with her daughter, watching rom coms, and accepting the support of others, especially from her stepmom, in ensuring that all of Britney’s needs would continue being met. She continued to provide small but simple Christmas gifts, would take treats to her grandparents in their Care Center prior to Covid, and would call her mom out of state to check in on her.
Shelynn was preceded in death by her father Lynn, stepmother Renee (Gertsch), brother Chris, and her furry friends Pepper and Shadow. She is survived by her mother Sherry (Southworth), siblings Jared, Kimberlee (Aguayo), and Jordan, and most of all her shining star, her daughter Britney (Nunez).
Per her wishes, her remains have been cremated and there will not be a funeral service. In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree in the Wasatch Range, to help keep our canyons vibrant and colorful.
Our deepest gratitude goes to the ICU nurses and staff at Holy Cross Hospital, over the years at the University of Utah Hospital and Intermountain Health, and finally at Sandstone Taylorsville Hospice.
“There isn't a person you wouldn't love if you could read their whole story.” – Marjorie Peay Hinckley. Shelynn, God be with you till we meet again.
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