AUBURN — Evelyn Bishop Sinclair, 94, passed away suddenly in her home on March 7.

Evelyn was born on Oct. 8, 1923, in Hillsborough, N.B., the daughter of Martha Caldwell Bishop and Aubrey Sterling Bishop. Evelyn spent her childhood in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where her father served as a Baptist minister. After graduating from high school, Evelyn taught for one year in a one-room schoolhouse. She then pursued her nursing degree at the prestigious Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Quebec.

After World War II, Evelyn moved to her parents’ home in Springvale, continuing her nursing career at Goodall Hospital in Sanford. While in Springvale, she met and married Raymond Blanchard Sinclair, and the couple built their first house together. Soon afterward, Raymond achieved his dream of becoming a trooper in the Maine State Police. He was assigned to patrol the Maine Turnpike, and the family relocated to Auburn to be closer to his barracks.

In the 1950s, Evelyn began working as a substitute teacher, and this experience inspired her to start a second career in education. At the time, Evelyn had two children, Scott, age 10, and Catherine, age 13, and her husband was battling a serious chronic illness. Nonetheless, she spent four years commuting from Auburn to Gorham to earn her education degree from Gorham College, and she even had a third child, Robert Raymond. In the subsequent decades, Evelyn taught fifth and sixth grades at Lake Street and Webster schools in Auburn, sharing her special passion for social studies with generations of students.

Evelyn’s belief in the importance of learning extended into her personal life as well. Whether reading biographies, reciting poetry, studying Greek or memorizing the nations of Africa, she was always striving to know more and do more. Even when she lost most of her vision Evelyn eagerly listened to her “talking books” on the lives of presidents, history, and world politics, and she passed this curiosity and intellectual rigor to her children and grandchildren.

Throughout her life, Evelyn was also passionate about athletics. As a self-proclaimed “tomboy,” she spent her childhood riding her bike for miles, swimming in rivers, and playing softball. As an adult, Evelyn enjoyed swimming, tennis and skiing with family and friends. She was also an avid golfer, and over the years she had memberships at Martindale, Poland Spring and Prospect Hill.

Whether playing golf or Scrabble, Evelyn always enjoyed the camaraderie as much as the competition. She volunteered in different community organizations, including Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, CMMC, and the Auburn schools. In addition, she was a committed donor to the Auburn SPCA and Maine Public Radio.

Evelyn is survived by a daughter, Catherine Boutin of Auburn; and sons Scott Sinclair and his partner, Michelle Adler, of Naples and Robert Sinclair and his wife, Amy, of Greenville, S.C.

Evelyn is also survived by grandsons Todd Marquis Boutin and his wife, Lori, of Mechanic Falls, and Troy Boutin and his partner, Wendy Frayer, of Mechanic Falls; and granddaughters Jill Sanders and her husband, Damon, of Stafford, Va, and Mya Sinclair and grandson, Max Sinclair, of Greenville, S.C. Evelyn is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Colin Marquis Boutin, Ellen Marquis Boutin, Joseph Charles Sanders, and Joshua Raymond Sanders.

Other surviving family members include David Bishop, David Bergeron and his children and grandchildren, and Donald Boutin.

Evelyn was predeceased by her parents, Martha and Aubrey Bishop; her sister, Dorothy; her brother, George; a baby daughter, Heidi; and her husband, Raymond Blanchard Sinclair.

The family would like to thank all of Evelyn’s friends who provided support and companionship, over the past several years. That support allowed her to remain in her home. The family would also like to thank the Maine State Police, the Auburn Police Department, the Auburn Fire Department, and the Maine Warden Service for their courtesy, care and respect.

Friends and family are invited to share their memories and offer their condolences by visiting Evelyn’s online guestbook at www.thefortingrouplewiston.com.