Evelyn Daniel Cloutman

Evelyn Daniel Cloutman died peacefully on June 16, 2015 at her home. Evelyn was born on February 3, 1918, in Kentwood, LA to Ike and Mary Daniel. Evelyn graduated LSU with a BS in English and moved to Lake Charles, LA. In 1938 to teach at the original LaGrange High School on Ryan St. It was here that she met her fellow teacher and future husband, Edward B. Cloutman, Jr. At that time if a male and a female who taught at the same school got married to each other, the female would have to resign. Perhaps this was the incident that sparked in her a lifetime pursuit towards the advancement of human rights and especially, women's rights. Evelyn was a longtime member of the League of Women's Voters (LWV). In the late 70's she worked tirelessly with state legislators in an attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. It did not pass, but she took great consolation in the fact that the debate brought recognition to the plight of women's rights. Along with the LWV, she took part in the first city Recycling program. Evelyn was active in the founding and served on the Board of the Women's Shelter (now Oasis). In the early 80's she helped organize and was a member of the Mayor's Commission for Women. Active in the Literary Council, Evelyn tutored persons who could barely read or write. Evelyn was the recipient of many awards, but the one that she was most proud of is the Sojourner Truth Humanitarian Award given by the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church which she received only a week before her death. She was a charter member of Oak Park Methodist Church and following its closure, a member of First Methodist Church. Evelyn leaves behind four sons, Edward III (Betsy Julian) of Dallas, TX, Rick of Lake Charles, Jeff of Lake Charles, and Charles of Austin, TX.; grandsons, Michael (Julie) of Taos, NM, Chad of Dallas, TX, Edward IV of Dallas, TX and Eric (Christie) of St Louis, MO; six great grandchildren; and one sister, Pat Allen of Houma, LA. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 20, 2015 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Prien Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will begin on Saturday at 12:00 noon until the start of the service.