Evangelene Kaye (Smith) Trowbridge

Evangelene was born July 3, 1952, in Westfield, New York, the daughter of the late Allen Ernest and Eleanor Belle (Nellis) Smith. She grew up on Coe Road in Stockton, New York, and attended Cassadaga Valley School, graduating in 1970. Ev graduated from SUNY Fredonia in 1974, with a degree in education. While earning her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico, Ev worked in accounting for the New Mexico Heart Institute in Albuquerque. She worked there 25 years. She was a volunteer fire fighter/EMT for the Edgewood, New Mexico Fire Department for 20 years, serving as the rescue captain for many years.

Evangelene married Jack Trowbridge on Jan. 17, 1987. Quarter horses were always a part of Ev’s life until she met Jack and together they developed a love for Belgian draft horses. The couple and their six Belgians moved to Decatur, Iowa in 2002, to do some farming with the horses. They hitched the horses for parades, hayrides, and weddings. They also began a bee keeping business, selling their honey at local farmer’s markets. In addition, Ev worked at Great Western Bank and then as business manager for the Lamoni Community School district. Evangelene was a member of Trinity Christian Church of Decatur, Iowa.

Survivors include her brother, Gene A. Smith (wife, Loretta) and niece, Sara Johnson (husband Nicholas) all of Jamestown, New York; step-son, Scott Trowbridge of Juneau, Alaska; step-daughter, Kristi Murphy of Cincinnati, Ohio; three step-grand-children; several other relatives; and many close friends from Iowa and New Mexico. Evangelene was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jack in 2018; and a nephew, Daniel Smith.

Burial took place in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Adel, Iowa, on March 13, 2026. A local memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 3,2026, at 3 P.M at the Chautauqua Suites Hotel in Mayville, New York, with Rev. Andrew Frudd officiating. All are welcome. Arrangements were through the Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa. Memorials may be given to the Trinity Christian Church, 16773 State Highway 2, Decatur, Iowa 50067.