Evelyn Reis with her son Tom

     Chenoan of the Year is Evelyn Reis. Evelyn was nominated by Gene Jontry. He wrote: I feel Evelyn has served our community exceedingly well over the years with many responsibilities, committee assignments, writing about the town and its history, veterans of conflict, and more recently the 150th Anniversary Pageant performed last June at the local church facility.
     She was employed at State Farm for five years, 1937-1942, serving most of that time as a secretary in the office of Adlai Rust, Vice-President. She married a classmate, Hugo Reis, and they celebrated 55 1/2 years of marriage. He died in 1996. They had two sons, Jerry who is now deceased, and Tom who lives in Indianapolis. She has seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In 1952 she began employment at Chenoa Unit District #9 as Secretary/Bookkeeper in the Superintendent's office and worked there for 22 years, under Harley Seybold, Ralph Woolard and Eugene Jontry. She was instrumental in implementing the direct deposit system for all school employees.
     After retiring from the school office, she was employed at Meadows Mennonite home for ten years, 1974-1984, working in development, as editor of the Round Robin, a quarterly newsletter, and as Volunteer Director. She also served on the Board that developed Burt Village, and has now lived there for 21 years. Evy has always been a "Chenoa Booster," loving her hometown. She has been an avid collector of Chenoa memorabilia such as old newspapers, old Chenoa postcards, and many items may be seen at the Chenoa Historical Society. Writing has always been her "first love." Her excellent poetry may be seen in Ideals Magazine, as well as many other publications. Taking a summer 2-week course in journalism at the University of Illinois, she was for a number of years the Chenoa Correspondent for the Chenoa local paper, the Pontiac Leader and the Bloomington Pantagraph. She has been noted for writing programs, plays and pageants for many organizations in Chenoa on many subjects. She was a member of the Footlight Guild and took part in that community theatre. She has held offices in the Chenoa Woman's Club, the Arts and Travel Club, has served on the Boards of both the Scott House and the Chenoa Swimming Pool Association. She is a charter member of the Chenoa Historical Society, and a lifelong member of the Chenoa United Methodist Church. She and her husband were co-presidents of the Chenoa Alumni Association one year and she has missed only three banquets since 1936. She has done publicity for many of these organizations. Crafts and quilting took up much of her time after retirement. She designed 27 quilts, and has given most of them away to children and grandchildren...One of Evy's quilts has been hung in the new addition at the Methodist Church. Loving the history of Chenoa, she maintains a very high interest in the Chenoa Historical Society, serving as its publicity chairman at the present time. She has completed authoring two books for the Society. The first was " 'Til I Come Marching Home" in 2000, then in 2002 she wrote "Memories of Chenoa." Both books tell many stories of Chenoa, the first of the 275 veterans from Chenoa in WWII, and the second contains stories of Chenoan's who grew up here, or lived here, or attended school here. These books have sold well.
     Evy has been noted for writing pageants for various organizations in town over the years. She completed two for the Chenoa Woman's Club on Anniversaries, and one for the Methodist Church on the occasion of its building's 100th year. The latest pageant was "Through the Years II" which she both wrote and directed for the Chenoa Sesquicentennial Committee. It was given at the Presbyterian Church in June of 2004, and was an overwhelming success with a cast of 35 Chenoans, plus a chorus of 21 members.
     At age 86, Evy says she is ready to completely retire, do a little traveling and just enjoy life! She does wish to thank everyone who has helped her along the way, and for the many Chenoa friends who have been so good to her!!