Evelyn Ann Brockway

Evelyn Ann Brockway, 84, Kalamazoo, formerly of Vicksburg, passed away peaceably on August 17 at the Alamo Nursing Home.  She was born May 13, 1939 in Valparaiso, IN, the daughter of LeRoy and Margaret (Wayne) Manning. 

She attended Valparaiso High School and moved to Kalamazoo in 1968 where she met and married the love of her life, Carlton Brockway.  Evelyn joined Carlton in Vicksburg where they raised their family and resided for the next 47 years.  Evelyn’s love of children and of her community led her to lead the Vicksburg Athletic Boosters’ bingo for 44 years.  This commitment resulted in several millions of dollars being raised for the children in Vicksburg to participate in sports. 

Evelyn was honored by being inducted into the Vicksburg Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Boosters naming their annual scholarships after her.  In 2013, the president of the Boosters was quoted as saying “Evelyn is the single most important person to Vicksburg athletics in the last 30 years.”  Vicksburg Community Schools honored Evelyn in 2014 by naming the girls varsity softball field the “Evelyn Brockway Softball Complex”.  At the dedication ceremony School Superintendent Charles Glaes stated that Evelyn’s commitment to the youth in our community means today’s kids will not have pay to participate in high school sports, neither will their children and neither will their children.  Evelyn’s belief in social justice is reflected in her dedication plaque which reads “Every kid should have an opportunity to play.”    

Evelyn was proceeded in death by her husband Carlton and is survived by her children John (Vicki) Holmes, Rick (Jennie) Holmes, Carla Brockway; grandchildren John, Katrina, Aaron, Christopher, Olivia, Rachel, Joshua, Alex; and great-great grandchild Kadence, Eti and Enoka.  

The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 4pm to 7pm at the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home, Vicksburg. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, August 23^rd, 2023 at 11am. Following the service she will be buried next to her husband Carlton at the Vicksburg Cemetery.

Those wishing to live stream the service may use the link below. Streaming will begin five minutes before the posted service time.

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/3700354981

While at www.amsfuneralhomes.com, please take time to sign Evelyn’s guestbook, and/or share your favorite memory with her family. Those who wish may make contributions to the Vicksburg Athletic Boosters at vicksburgathleticboosters.org

The Brockway family is being cared for by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home and Cremation Society, 409 South Main Street, Vicksburg, MI 49097 (269) 649-1697.