Yolanda Unakis Evert, 87, passed away peacefully in the arms of her loving daughter and son-in-law February 11, 2026, in her Oscar, Louisiana, home after a courageous battle with renal failure. Yolanda was born in Kewanee, Illinois, March 22, 1938, the only child of Charles Anton Unakis, deceased 1998, and Isabel Srbina Unakis, deceased 2016.

She graduated Salutatorian of Kewanee High School (1955), Millikin University, BA (1959), and University of Colorado (MA) in speech pedagogy and counselling (1964). Yolanda was a lifelong educator, teaching high school, college, university and military English, speech, drama, and debate.

In February 1964 on a blind date, she met the love of her life and married Erwin F. Evert a month later, a day before her birthday. Their only daughter was born in Chicago (1965). They eventually settled in Park Ridge, IL, during the school years and summered at their mountain cabin on Kitty Creek near Yellowstone. Her loquacious personality and contagious smile and laughter garnered her many friends throughout her lifetime. She always loved finding new recipes to try up until her death. She cared for her mother until she passed at 103(2016), then built her dream home near Yolanda Unakis Evert, 87, passed away peacefully in the arms of her loving daughter and son-in-law February 11, 2026, in her Oscar, Louisiana, home after a courageous battle with renal failure. Yolanda was born in Kewanee, Illinois, March 22, 1938, the only child of Charles Anton Unakis, deceased 1998, and Isabel Srbina Unakis, deceased 2016.

She graduated Salutatorian of Kewanee High School (1955), Millikin University, BA (1959), and University of Colorado (MA) in speech pedagogy and counselling (1964). Yolanda was a lifelong educator, teaching high school, college, university and military English, speech, drama, and debate.

In February 1964 on a blind date, she met the love of her life and married Erwin F. Evert a month later, a day before her birthday. Their only daughter was born in Chicago (1965). They eventually settled in Park Ridge, IL, during the school years and summered at their mountain cabin on Kitty Creek near Yellowstone. Her loquacious personality and contagious smile and laughter garnered her many friends throughout her lifetime. She always loved finding new recipes to try up until her death. She cared for her mother until she passed at 103(2016), then built her dream home near her daughter and moved to Louisiana (2018). As a published author, she wrote “Along Kitty Creek,” creative writings, numerous genealogical articles and books, and continued researching family history up until her demise.

Her only child, Mara Evert (John) Domingue and brother-in-law, Robert Lawrence (Margaret) Evert, survive her. In addition to her parents, her beloved husband Erwin F. Evert (2010) and her niece Elizabeth Deutscher nee Evert (2017) preceded her in death. Yolanda requested cremation and desired no services.