Eve DeVeir, Loved and Truly Missed. July 9,2019

SERVICES: Monday, July 15, 2019, Walton’s Mortuary, 115 S. Lassen St. Susanville, then Westwood Cemetery, followed by a Reception at the Walker Mansion Inn, Westwood at 3rd and Ash Streets.

We lost Eve DeVeir last week, a very honored, very important part of our staff. She retired last Monday so we all got the chance to let her know how much she meant to us. I wrote a column for the magazine about Eve and our long road together, which she had just read on the final proof and loved. She wrote a final farewell column to all of us, her clients and our readers which we had all read.

Now that the magazine was printed we would have time to finalize details for the retirement party at the Walker Mansion Inn so Eve’s family, friends and clients could also wish her well. Eve insisted that we wait until after press time to set the date and send the invites.

I spoke to her many times on Monday morning as the final pages rolled onto the press. We laughed and planned to help each other in the future. She was still moving forward with a sales position in local radio and doing a great there too.

So very sadly, the day after she retired from MVL and our magazine was printed, we lost Eve in a tragic accident. Our hearts are heavy; our loss is huge.

We hope you will read what Eve had to say and understand that at the time of press, we had no idea she would not be with us here again. We love her and we miss her greatly. Our hearts go out to all of her many loved ones and the family she so treasured, during this difficult time.

We also welcome your memories to share of Eve for a special tribute to her online and for our next print edition, publishing October 15th. Call Eileen at 530-256-2800 or email her SUBJECT: Memories of Eve at mountainvalleyliving@gmail.com.

The following was Eve’s Fond Farewell to her colleagues, clients and readers at Mountain Valley Living as she headed off into retirement from MVL:

A Fond Farewell by Eve DeVeir (was pressed July 8th for distribution July 15)

After 10+ years with Mountain Valley Living, the time has come to call it a day. To say I will miss it would be an understatement. Publisher Eileen Majors has given me a free hand to do my job-my way, while providing me with her support and graphic skills in creating some of the “Rocket Science” advertising I designed.

Of course that would not be possible without the help of Missy (Melissa) Wynn always having my back, and maintaining impeccable records to draw from. Add to that the seemingly endless patience of Graphics Designer Molly Baxter who, like Eileen and Missy, made and remade ads until they matched what I envisioned. All three are excellent writers, turning out constant “got to read” articles in every edition. like Missy’s Road Trips and Restaurant Reviews. Molly often shares stories of her wild and wonderful adventures with us. 

Little do advertisers realize what it takes to create the finished product. On ads alone, simply getting  the necessary information from some advertisers can be like pulling teeth, to working with pages of information from others that must be condensed to create an attractive and effective advertisement that gets the message across.

It’s so true “A picture is worth a thousand words,” but finding the perfect illustration can be a challenge. Whether trying to schedule in-house photos, to searching a website for the perfect art. When finished, it still must be submitted to the advertiser who may have a different vision.

None of this would be worthwhile were it not for the never ending supply of fascinating articles in each edition. It all began with Eileen’s vision of a colorful, family-friendly magazine filled with stories delving into the many wonders to be explored throughout our beautiful corner of the world. Each edition is eagerly awaited by both residents and visitors throughout Northeastern California.

Add to that the contributions over the years from the many writers, graphics designers, delivery staff, and all who have tirelessly put their shoulder to the wheel.

For those of you that don’t know me, my story goes back well before I started with MVL. I won’t date myself by telling the year that I started in publishing, but I was drawn into it by a happenstance acquaintance looking for someone to write a Westwood column in a local publication. That resulted in a venture to create a local satellite publication.

Fortunately I was mentored by a hard task master capable of molding me into a manager able to deal with the  challenges of handling another new, and financially secure satellite office. I feel fortunate to call him friend.

Years later a job offer from a Southern California publication captured my imagination. In spite of the challenges of venturing into a completely new world, I could not resist the pull of the unknown. The years of living in Malibu and working in Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica were so worthwhile. Venturing into the wonders of Los Angeles, Hollywood and the southern coast provided never-to-be-forgotten adventures.

When family called me back to Lassen County, I embarked on another career-real estate. I truly enjoyed helping people find their perfect home, and found it financially sustainable-until the “bubble burst” in ’08-’09.

To my good fortune Eileen had created Mountain Valley Living during my absence, and welcomed me into the fold. I have truly enjoyed taking part in MVL’s success story and will miss the camaraderie with everyone involved.

I wish my advertisers continued success. They welcomed me into their shops, offices and lives creating lifelong friendships that will never be forgotten. I will miss them.

What’s next? Farebeat for me to fade silently into the sunset. Far from it. I will double-down on my other job…and perhaps finally write my family’s wonderful story. 

The following was my (Eileen’s) farewell column featured in our July 15, 2019 edition that went to press the day before her passing.

How Far Things Have Come

   As I look upon the years I have spent working with Eve DeVeir, I count a working relationship turned friendship that has lasted nearly four decades. A lot has changed in the working world during that time. In the old days, our team would fire up an electric coffee pot, hammer out news articles on typewriters and pencil up ads as fast as we could so the manual typesetters could build each element and wax it all onto a page. Eve always insisted we strive for excellence, pushing us to do more, then she would turn around and invite the staff for parties and special office events to keep morale up during our stressful, deadline-led jobs; you know, before all the computers started doing all the work, right?

    Some might say life is easier nowadays, but I’m not so sure. Today’s automated society is changing everything, but it seems nobody is noticing. I remember the first day the fax machine arrived to our Susanville newspaper office. Eve was my boss. Ten adults stood in front of it to watch the first document reach us via fax transmission from Quincy. Nobody had a phone in their pocket to shoot a picture of it either, so they could share it with the world.

   Now, the hand-held digital devices that are taking over lives are projected as mere necessity. Information available on your smart phone can answer nearly any question one may have. Everything is changing. Even fresh coffee, it’s now brewed in tiny plastic cups. (What could be wrong with that?) And if you want to be invited to parties these days, you’d  better have a social media account and you’d better keep an eye on it.

    I revel in the good old days and the knowledge obtained from working for people like Eve. She was never afraid of hard work and taught us that it was the way to get our goals met, which indeed it was, not by documenting our every move on a computer.

   Does automation come with limitation? Is there a price for convenience? I think so and I think it certainly may become noticed by all one day. Meanwhile,  I guess nobody’s interested in saving the monthly cost of providing hand-held devices for everyone in the family; and everybody thinks everybody is constantly monitoring their social media accounts for information (and invitations). And maybe nobody’s done the math on just how many cups of delicious gourmet coffee you can get from a twelve dollar bag of your favorite beans.

   With all of its benefits and convenience, today’s automated society does not need to change everything, just one thing; like adding a big dose of common sense. Perhaps it will overcome our new sense of reliance on automation for a combined outcome that really works well. Eve, thanks for teaching me how to do things the hard, old-fashioned way. As another era goes by us, I will truly miss working with you, Eve. God Bless you and your new adventures!

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