"Born in Aulac, New Brunswick, Evelyn was a daughter of Thomas Leonard Powell and Mabel (Giles) . She grew up in her beloved village of Maccan, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. She married Reverend Harvey L. Denton in her sophomore year at Acadia University. One of their pastorates was First Baptist Church, Halifax from 1940-52. After her husband's death in 1965, she returned to Acadia and graduated with her B.A. in English at the age of 60. She taught grade 11 English at Halifax West High School. Before she retired in 1975 she travelled the world and visited the homes of many of her favourite English writers.

Evelyn was very proud of being the descendant of Gabriel Purdy, a United Empire Loyalist who settled in Westchester Township, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia and received a UE Certificate or certificate of loyalist descent from the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada (UELAC) in 1982. Gabriel Purdy was born in Westchester County, New York in 1755 and served as a Sergeant in Colonel James Delancey's Regiment during the American Revolution. Evelyn was a long time member of the UELAC in Nova Scotia and on her 108th birthday in November, 2016 received a Certificate of congratulations from the Nova Scotia Branch.

She was predeceased by her husband, Harvey L. Denton; sister, Dorothy (Malcolm) Shaffner; and grandson, David MacKay. She is survived by her son, Tom (June), Winnipeg; daughters, Carol (Roy) Snair, Halifax; Evelyn (John) Dickinson, Digby; grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held in First Baptist Church, Halifax, on Thursday, April 27 at 2 p.m. Reception to follow in the church parlour. No flowers please. Thank you to the staff of Mount Lane at Parkstone Enhanced Care who earned mother's love; her many loyal friends and relatives and Reverend Nelson A. Metcalfe, Minister of Visitation, First Baptist Church, Halifax and visitation members."

Source: “Loyalist Trails” 2017-15: April 9, 2017