Evelyn “Evie” (Bellis) Gulick of Easton PA, 95, who devoted her life to her family, church, local amateur theatre, and her beloved city of Easton, died Sunday, November 10, 2024, at Abington Manor Memory Care.
Born March 6, 1929, in Easton PA, she was the daughter of the late Parks and Grace (Litsinger) Bellis. She and her husband, Charles “Chas” Gulick were married 67 years until his death in 2017.
Evie graduated from Easton Area High School in 1946, and was an active member of her class reunion committee.
In her early years, she was a drama teacher at Miss Jeanne’s School of Dance Arts in Bethlehem, coached Warren and Hunterdon County Miss America Locals in beauty pageants, and was the director of the Wilson Borough Jubilee Celebration. She worked as church secretary at the former Olivet Presbyterian Church in Easton PA, while also serving as its youth group director. She performed at Pennsylvania Playhouse and Guthsville Playhouse. She directed and wrote musical sketch comedy shows for TNT (The New Theatre).
Evie loved performing in community theater. In 1946, she joined the Easton Player’s Guild. The group merged with the Easton Express Glee Club in 1948 to form Chansonnette Theatre. It was there she met Chas, and they both became charter members of Chansonnette. Evie performed in over 80 shows for Chansonnette. Her favorite roles were Dolly Levi in “Hello Dolly”, Mame Dennis in “Mame”, Reno Sweeney in “Anything Goes”, Wildcat Jackson in “Wildcat”, Lorelei Lee in “Lorelei”, Lola in “Damn Yankees”, and Ella Peterson in “Bells Are Ringing”. When not performing onstage, Evie made costumes, choreographed, painted sets, and sold tickets and ads. In later years, she loved performing in Chansonnette’s small shows at various nursing homes throughout the Valley.
In her 50’s, Evie embarked on a new career incorporating her love of the City of Easton. She worked for the Downtown Improvement Group (DIG) in the 1970’s as its Executive Director, which later became Two Rivers Area Commerce Council (TRACC). Evie worked as TRACC’s Director of Marketing and Promotions. In 1976 for the Bicentennial, Evie was one of the co-founders of Easton’s “Community Spirit Days” with former Mayor Henry Schulz, his assistant Phil Levine, and the Reverend Harry Maue of the Olivet Presbyterian Church. For that event, Evie and her husband co-wrote a Bicentennial Pageant. It was such a success, the following year community leaders decided to make the event an annual one, and it was named Easton Area Heritage Day, which now draws tens of thousands of people to the downtown every year. Evie served as Executive Director of Heritage Day for close to 20 years. She also was Executive Director of Easton’s Shad Fishing Tournament, and was known as “Shad Lady” by fishermen on both sides of the Delaware.
Evie was the first female member of the Kiwanis Club in Easton, and was President Elect of the Sales & Marketing Executives of Easton. After retiring from TRACC, she became assistant manager of the then-restored Hotel Easton. Following that she decided to run her own marketing and special events consultancy company called Gulick Associates.
She was a member of the former Olivet Presbyterian Church, Easton where she loved singing in the church choir. Most recently, she was a member of the First Moravian Church, Easton.
Evie’s greatest role was that of mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Evie was loved and adored as “Nanny Evie” by her family, as well as many family friends.
She is lovingly missed by her two daughters, Donna Giobbi and her husband, Herb of Arlington, VA; Angel Gulick of Easton PA; a son, Mark Gulick and his wife, Rhonda of Whitehall, PA; her 6 grandchildren Shannon Cuocco, Matthew Giobbi, Ashley Ofray, Amanda Giobbi, Jared Gulick, and Benjamin Giobbi; and, her 3 great-grandchildren Lauren Cuocco, Jayden Ofray, and Savana Ofray.
Evie is predeceased by her parents, her husband, and her siblings Charles Lothrop, Audrey Bergenback, Dick Lothrop, Donald Bellis, and Carl Bellis.
Her family would like to recognize and thank Abington Manor for their exceptional care of their mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother during her journey with Alzheimer’s.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, November 18, 2024 in First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 10:00 am until service time on Monday in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and Ascend Hospice. Please offer online condolences at www.ashtonfuneralhome.com.
