Evelyn "Evie" Mary Byrnes

Evelyn Mary Byrnes, “Evie” age 81 of Atlanta, GA and Highlands, NC passed peacefully on April, 6 ,2016 after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. Evie was born in Manhattan NYC and was raised in Garrison, NY.  She graduated from Ladycliff College in 1956 as class valedictorian. Evie then started her work career with AT&T in White Plains, NY.  She moved quickly from engineering to data processing where she held numerous pioneering positions from programmer to Division Manager. After AT&T, she joined AMS, advancing to Southern Region Vice President. After her retirement in 2000 Evie volunteered at Atlanta’s Northside Hospital. In 2003, Evie and husband established a home in Highlands, NC. Her first involvement in Highlands was as a hospice volunteer supporting terminally ill patients. She served in local board leadership positions for Hospice and the International Friendship Center.  Evie served as a founder and Vice President of the Hospice House Foundation of Western North Carolina. She was instrumental in bringing Four Seasons hospice to Highlands and Western NC and served on their board.  Prior to her illness, Evie worked tirelessly on a capital campaign to ensure that a hospice house is built to provide compassionate end-of-life care to the residents of Western NC. She was an active member of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church, Bible Study and the Rotary Club of Highlands, and a volunteer at the Bookworm and the Highlands Cashiers Hospital gift shop.  Evie is survived by her husband of 33 years Kurt Mast and stepchildren John (Donna) and David (Ashley) Mast and Jenifer (Michael) Dobbs, sister-in-law Debbie Mast all from Atlanta. She was grandmother to Connor and Mary Carson Dobbs, Kurt, Will, Erika, Payton, Brady and Delaney Mast. Known as the “matriarch” older sister of the John and Evelyn Byrnes family, she leaves behind six of her ten siblings, Gerald (Joan) Byrnes of Cape May, NJ, Lawrence (Kathleen) Byrnes of Somerset, NJ, Walter (Alice) Byrnes of The Villages, FL, Sr. Ellen Byrnes of Lincoln Park, NJ; Robert (Rosemary) Byrnes of Croton on Hudson, NY, and Paul Byrnes of The Villages, FL; her sister in law Gail Byrnes of Atlanta, GA, brother in law James Brady of Charleston, SC. as well as countless nieces and nephews who always sought her wise counsel. Her beloved siblings John, Charles and Garrett Byrnes and Margaret Brady, whom she now is reunited with, precede her in death. In addition she leaves behind scores of friends in Highlands, Cashiers and Franklin, NC, St Simons, Atlanta and New York. [Evie Byrnes was a beautiful woman who possessed elegance, style and grace.  She was a fine listener who made an impact on all who met her. Her abiding faith, warm smile, wise guidance and gentle demeanor are gifts she leaves to all of us. She enjoyed the company of many dear friends and devoted her time to faith, family and service.] A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, April 11th, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church at 315 N. 5th St., Highlands, NC. In lieu of flowers, her family kindly requests that you honor Evie’s memory by supporting the Hospice House of Western North Carolina PO Box 815 Franklin, NC 28744 http://hhfwnc.org.