Evelyn Raby Senter

Evelyn Louise Raby Senter, 89, passed away peacefully on June 18th, 2024, while in the loving care of her family and her Hospice & AHC nurses and staff (at AHC Humboldt). A celebration of her life will be held at a graveside service in Rose Hill Cemetery, Humboldt, TN,  2 P.M. Saturday, October 26, 2024.  All Friends and Family are welcome.

Evelyn was born in Freeport Texas on July 20th, 1934, to Joe Bailey Raby and Anthonette Pendergist Raby. Her father was stationed with the Coast Guard (USCG) and subsequently she grew up near the USCG stations in Freeport, Port Isabel, and Galveston, Texas; Venice, Louisiana; and Mobile, Alabama. She graduated from Mississippi Southern University with a BA in English (1955) and a MA in Communications at Memphis State University (1978). After moving to Nashville TN, she met and married James D. Senter III, in 1957. In 1959 they moved to Humboldt, where they raised their four children.

Creativity could have been Evelyn’s middle name, as she loved writing poetry, stories, songs, drawing, and playing her ukelele. She hosted the children’s TV show Romper Room (WBBJ 1960s), wrote for the Humboldt Courier Chronicle, and taught English at Lane College and Jackson State College. She was a consummate actress, honed by her passion and acting in plays in high school, college, and community theaters of Nashville, Jackson, and Humboldt. She fulfilled a lifelong dream to act in New York City when she performed in productions at the Roundabout Theatre.

Evelyn cherished her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – delighted to know what each one was doing. She loved her friends and pets, adoring her closest ones. She was bright, witty, determined, and deeply loved. The early onset of Meige’s Syndrome ended her career, limited her mobility and social life, and endlessly exhausting. Yet she was determined to enjoy her loved ones and all of her varied interests, as she did. Her creative spirit and loyal love prevailed and will remain in our hearts forever.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Anthonette Raby; her sister Betty Raby Thompson; and her sons James David Senter IV and Jefferson Gray Senter. She is survived by her daughter Allison Senter Dowsley and son Joe Walton Senter; her grandchildren Elizabeth Ashely Dowsley, Felix Senter Dowsley (Anna), Standifer Gray Dowsley (Kelsea), Jefferson Andrew Senter (Jessica); and great grandchildren Miles Hurley Dowsley, Joseph Connor Senter, and Felix Parrott Senter. 

In honor of Evelyn, please consider memorials for the Humboldt Animal Shelter, the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, or the American Lung Association.