Evelyn Marie Murray Curcio
Myrtle Beach, S.C.,
formerly of Newell
Evelyn Marie Murray Curcio, a/k/a Cookie, Mother, Momma, Mom, Ma, Lovey, Grandma Curcio, GC, Grandma Cookie, Great-Grandma and Great-Great-Grandma, passed into eternal life, Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
She was born in Coal Center and lived in Newell, for 73 years before moving full time, in 2001, to a “future retirement home” that she and her husband purchased in 1981, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
A 1947 graduate of Brownsville High School, Evelyn retired after working 47 years, starting in 1947, at the age of 17, on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE). It was there that she was given the name “Cookie”, the only name by which most of the railroad workers across Southern Canada and the USA knew her. She was proud to say she opened the door for many women, being one of the first females to work at the Newell P&LE office. She forged ahead with making a difference for women in the workforce while dealing with challenges such as female restroom issues, fairness in job assignments, and qualifying for promotional opportunities. One of her most precious memories was when she was working at the downtown Pittsburgh P&LE office and had lunches with her husband at the renovated, historic, Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station, Pittsburgh, which is now the Grand Concourse Restaurant.
Evelyn and Milio “Bones”, her husband of 45 years, considered themselves blessed to be able to travel to about 30 countries throughout the world for many years until his passing in 1994. After that she traveled with her sons and daughter. The highlights of her trips included worshiping at the Marian Shrines at Fatima, Lourdes, Medjugorje and Garabandal, and three trips to Ireland, from where her Murray family immigrated.
Evelyn was an active member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Murrells Inlet, S.C., where she was a member of the Catholic Daughters and assisted in weekly OCIA where she helped to welcome and teach those desiring to become new members of the Catholic Church. In OCIA for eight years, she shared her story of how she became Catholic at age 17, and had to row her boat across the Monongahela River each week to meet with the Catholic Priest at the nearest parish for classes. When construction was completed, she joined the new church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, in Newell, where she was a member of the Christian Mothers and began her devotion and love for Our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary.
Evelyn was a member of the Newell Drum & Bugle Corps and played trumpet in her high school band. She served in the Women’s Auxiliary of the VFW, Moose Lodge Women’s Auxiliary, and was a Charter Member & Secretary for the Ladies Auxiliary of the Santa Barbara Club in Newell. She was active with the Girl Scouts, a Boy Scout Den Mother, and an officer in the Frazier School District PTA. She remained an active Card Club member in Myrtle Beach until a few years before her passing.
The last surviving member of her immediate family, Evelyn is survived by daughter, Susan Mangery and husband, William, with whom she lived the past six years in Myrtle Beach; grandchildren that she adored, grandsons: Glenn (Darlene) of Orlando, Fla., Benjamin (Jason) of Columbia, S.C., Patrick (Kathy) of Belle Vernon, Philip (Vanessa) of Greensburg, Milio (Ann Marie) of Spottswood, Va., Christopher (Stephanie) of Scottsville, Va., William (Paige) of Stockbridge, Ga. and David (Tara) of Pittsburgh; and her beloved Granddaughters: Mary Kathryn (Henry) of Ogden, Utah, Leslie (William) of Belle Vernon, Elizabeth (Brandon) of Pittsburgh and Randi (Matt) in Findley, Ohio; daughters-in-law: Kathryn (Carlos) of Orlando, Fla., Linda (Greg) of Charlottesville, Va. and Deborah of Pittsburgh; and two great-great-grandsons, Simon and Nolan, which were always in her thoughts and prayers. Evelyn leaves 12 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and many wonderful friends, some of whom were more like family.
Evelyn was predeceased by her husband, Milio “Bones” in 1994 and sons, William Randall “Randy” and Milio “Buddy” Curcio; parents, Leland and Marie Bartman Murray; her mother and father-in-law, Milio and Mary Frijt Curcio; grandson, Rick Chalfant; great-grandson, Vincent Curcio; brothers: Leland, Harold and Edward Murray; and sister, Ruth Murray Gnoze.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Evelyn will be celebrated at St. Michael Catholic Church, Murrells Inlet, S.C., at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 5, in coordination with Burroughs Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 14, at the St. Sebastian Catholic Church, Belle Vernon. Inurnment will follow immediately at the Mt. Calvery Cemetery, Coal Center, where Evelyn will be joined with family and the love of her life, her beloved husband, Milio. Arrangements for this service are being handled by the ELEY McCRORY FUNERAL HOME, INC., Fayette City.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Heart Association, The American Cancer Society, St. Michael Catholic Church or St. Sebastian Catholic Church.