Promoted to Glory: Major Evelyn Deuel

Major Evelyn Deuel was Promoted to Glory May 11, 2020. The funeral will be held Oct. 24, 2020, at Georgia's Camp Grandview.

Born, Oct. 23, 1934, to Harmon and Ella Goodson in Ocala, Florida, she was first called "Baby," and later "Mottie." Through her childhood, a legal name had never been designated, and when she was 12, she selected her name: Evelyn Amelia Goodson. To those who knew her through her childhood, and to all her nieces and nephews, she remained "Mottie," however.

God called her to service early in life, and in September 1953, Evelyn Goodson entered Salvation Army officer training in Atlanta, where she met the love of her life, Cadet James Deuel. Commissioned as a lieutenant, she was appointed to Cambridge, Maryland, and later to Parkersburg, West Virginia. After she and James were married, they were appointed to the South Chesnut Street Outpost in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where their son, James, Jr., was born. They were later appointed to Atlanta Fulton Corps and Boys Club, where Carol was born, and to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where Judi and Brent were born. Later appointments took them to Decatur, Alabama; Greenwood, Mississippi; Dallas, Texas, and to THQ in Atlanta.

When the Deuels were appointed there in 1970, it was not standard practice to give appointments to THQ officer wives. After a few years, Evelyn decided to attend college, and she graduated with honors. She worked for a time as a school crossing guard, and the policy regarding appointments for THQ wives was re-evaluated. In the June 1979 moves, all THQ officer wives were given appointments, and that policy became standard practice.

Evelyn was appointed to Overseas Child Sponsorship, and in 1986 the Deuels were appointed to serve in Brazil. They returned to THQ in Atlanta in 1990, where she was the assistant director of Officers Health Services, where she served until the Deuels retired in 1996. She continued to work in that office as an employee for 10 years after retirement.

She was a faithful soldier of the Gainesville, Georgia, Corps from 1996, where she was the unofficial welcome sergeant.

Evelyn Deuel is survived by husband Major James Deuel, sons Major James (Jean) Deuel and Brent Deuel, daughters Carol Renteria and Judith Deuel and one grandchild.