Mary Lee Evans

Mary Lee Evans is a longtime member of the YMCA who is a regular Silver Sneakers class attendee. She can be found at the Steve Clark YMCA every Tuesday and Thursday having fun and staying fit with her fellow Silver Sneakers friends. 

There’s no denying group exercise currently has Mary Lee’s full attention. As a young girl, though, her trips to the YMCA centered around the pool – and for good reason. 

"The YMCA actually saved my life. When I was five, some boys threw me in the river and I couldn't swim,” she said. “So someone paid for our family to become Y members, because we didn't have a lot of money (to pay for swim lessons).”

While her experience was scary, it motivated her to prevent others from the same fear she experienced. She ended up teaching swim lessons at the Y for many years.

“I have been at the Y all my life,” Mary Lee quickly pointed out. “I love it… (the Y has) have good staff, good classes and they accommodate everyone!"