❄ A Portrait of Elegance: The Story Behind Evelyn Jane

In every Simpich Doll, there’s a story — and few are as heartfelt or personal as the one behind Evelyn Jane – The Ice Skater.

In the mid-1980s, Jan and Bob Simpich were invited to design a special doll to honor the winners of the 1988 U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Championship, held in Denver. Jan turned to a deeply personal inspiration: her sister, Evelyn Jane Nixon.

Known to her family as “Pudge,” Evelyn was the youngest of a lively household in Independence, Missouri. She was the twin sister of Marsha (“Midge”), and one of five children raised by Dr. Charles and Brenda Nixon. Though lovingly nicknamed in childhood, Evelyn grew into a woman of great poise and grace — qualities that Jan captured so beautifully in her tribute.

In 1984, Evelyn passed away from an aggressive form of sinus cancer. The diagnosis and loss sent waves of grief through the family, but also stirred something in Jan as an artist. She began sculpting a portrait head of her sister, unsure at first whether it would become a doll — only that she needed to express her love and loss through creation.

When the skating championship invitation arrived, Jan knew exactly who the doll should be: Evelyn Jane. Working with her husband Bob and son Reg, the family brought to life a Victorian skater, complete with a fur-lined coat, delicate bonnet, and pewter-cast skates. She glides over a sculpted block of “ice,” elegant and timeless — a tribute not only to winter’s charm, but to a life lived with grace and dignity.

Later, the portrait would be used again for another beloved Simpich piece: Victorian Summer, inspired once more by Evelyn’s memory.

In her final months, Evelyn spoke often of the Kingdom of God — a phrase that deeply moved her family. For those who knew her, Evelyn Jane is more than a collector’s item; it’s a quiet legacy of faith, beauty, and family love preserved in art.

Evalyn Jane over the years!

Above you can browse a number of appearences in the Doll Shops yearly catalogs.