Obituary: Scotten, Evelyn (Mantello)
Born in Spokane, Washington in 1917, Evelyn was the seventh and final child of Italian immigrants Charles Pasquale Mantello and Francesca (Anselmo) Mantello.
A self-described tomboy, Evelyn loved sports.
As a child, she played baseball (which she continued to do well into her 50s) and later, bowled right up through her 80s!
Tirelessly energetic, Eve is remembered as a fine cook, an accomplished seamstress and knitter, an avid gardener and an enthusiastic traveler - toting her bowling ball to countless tournaments.
Decades ago, Eve worked in Spokane at the Italian restaurant Tito’s.
In the ‘60s and early ‘70s, Eve incorporated her love of sports into her work as a saleperson in the sporting goods department at Two Swabbies in the Spokane Valley.
In retirement, Eve served for a number of years as secretary for the Deer Park Bowling League.
Eve’s first marriage, to Adolphus Earl Prettyman in 1949, was tragically cut short when an auto accident resulted in Earl’s death a few short years later.
A second marriage, to George M. Scotten, took place in 1956, and ended with George’s death in 1972.
Evelyn’s final pairing was with James M. Saling, a relationship that lasted over 40 years, until James’ passing in 2004.
Evelyn did not have children of her own, but that did not stop her from becoming a mother to James’ sons, Gary, David and Brian Saling, and still later devoting her motherly nurturing to her grandson Matthew, whom she often affectionately referred to simply as “my boy”.
Eve’s home for the last 45 years of her life was the community of Elk, WA.
Her circle of friends grew widely to include folks in Deer Park, Springdale, Newport and Priest River.
The Elk community in particular took Eve under its wing as she aged.
Thanks to the support of her absolutely incredible and amazing friends and neighbors, Eve was able to stay in her home until she was 96 years old.
Living in Elk allowed Eve to show her love of animals, with multiple horses, dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits and even a lamb under her care at one time or another.
She thrilled at the sight of a deer, often placing feed on her driveway to attract them on a winter’s eve.
When you left her house at night, you were typically reminded to “Watch out for the “D”.
In addition to her husbands, Evelyn was predeceased by her papa, Charles; and mama, Francesca; her brothers Roger, Ralph, Mike, and Eddie; her sisters, Teresa and Ellie; and David A. Saling.
Surviving family members include Gary Saling and Megan Mulvany, Brian and Cindy Saling, Matthew Saling, and many nieces and nephews descending from the Mantello family tree.
The family is organizing a celebration of Evelyn’s life, to be held in early spring 2015, in Elk, WA.
If you would like to be informed when a date is formally selected, please phone the Saling family at (509) 458-4048 or (509) 484-3129.