Louis J Evans
November 27, 1922 ~ July 19, 2015
Louis Jerome Evans was born November 27, 1922 at home to Lawrence Alexander Evans and Blanche Niblett Evans and passed away July 19, 2015 at the age of 92. He attended Hughes Springs schools and received his GED after WWII. He played football and won first in State in Poultry judging. He joined the Marines in 1940 and served in combat at Guadalcanal where he received the Purple Heart. He took great pride in being a Marine, and he was one of the most patriotic men we ever knew. He instilled that in his family as well. He married the love of his life, Mary Beth Smith, on July 18, 1943. They settled in Hughes Springs and made a life together for 68 years. He and Mary Beth had two children, Steve and Carol. He was employed by SWEPCO. In 1952, he was working as a lineman, and he fell 65 feet while working at the Hughes Springs football field. The people of Hughes Springs were wonderful to his family and had a ballgame and all the proceeds went to help with expenses. After a long recovery, he finished International Correspondence School to become an analytical chemist at the Lone Star SWEPCO plant. He later transferred to Wilkes Power Plant where he retired from SWEPCO after 35 years. After retiring, he enjoyed many years living on Lake O the Pines. While there, he and his wife were very active in the Lake O the Pines Baptist church, where he was a deacon and song leader. Louis was very active in his childrens lives. He was scoutmaster, PTA president, Band booster president, 2nd Commander of the American Legion, baseball coach, and a Mason for 60 years. He was the emcee for many years at the Miss Hughes Springs Beauty Pageant. He was in several Womanless Weddings and Plays. He had a zest for living and enjoyed all the activities of his life! He sang in a gospel quartet and thoroughly enjoyed singing music of any kind. He was a fun loving person who loved playing pranks. Louis thought his life was coming to a close when he retired at 62, but along came grandchildren! He was PawPaw to Robert Louis Parrymore (his namesake), Melissa Carol Evans, and Steven Paul Parrymore. He had another generation to entertain! They spent many years of riding gocarts, swimming, hunting, fishing, water skiing and having fun at the lake. He taught them how to put in a hard days work and finish up with a wonderful bonfire and weiner roast! Many of the grandchildrens friends still call him PawPaw. He had a wonderful garden for many years and he furnished many families with fresh vegetables. Life was never dull around the Evans house. While living at the lake, a special little girl, Alecia Goodman Capps, was an honorary granddaughter. A wonderful caregiver, Joy Green Epperson also took such care of he and his wife. He always had a second daughter in Mary Ellen Ryle Sampson. In 2012, after the loss of his wife, Mary Beth Evans, Louis moved to Buckner Westminster in Longview to be close to family. He spent his last few years at Buckner Assisted Living being wonderfully cared for by the staff, nurses, and friends! A big thank you goes to Buckner as well as Bethany Home Health Care, and Hospice of East Texas. We can never say thank you enough to all the caregivers through the years. They became like family. Our family is going to miss our daddy and PawPaw but we know he is in heaven with Jesus and our sweet mother and loved ones. He knew there was no other way to heaven except by Jesus. He had a very large family and there is much joy in heaven at his homecoming! We will dearly miss this man of courage, wisdom, wit, laughter and love! Louis was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Blanche Niblett Evans, his wife, Mary Beth Smith Evans, sister, Louiese Evans Holman and husband, Jesse, Lorece Evans Hall and husband, Orville Hall, Sr., sister, Lucille Evans Wallace and husband, Lewis Wallace, and a baby brother, Lawrence, and lifelong best friend, Phenone Hall. He is survived by his son, Dr. Larry Steve Evans and wife, Judy, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; daughter, Carol Evans Parrymore and husband, Bill, of Longview, Texas; grandchildren, Robert Parrymore of Whitehouse, Paul Parrymore of Diana, Texas, Melissa Evans Kraber and husband, Jeff, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; great grandchildren, Kaytlynn Stalcup, Kaytlin Parrymore, Macie Parrymore, Madalynn Parrymore, Mikayla Powell, Liam Powell, and Nikole Powell. Louis is survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends whom he loved dearly. Services for Mr. Evans will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 25, 2015 at Reeder-Davis Chapel. Active pallbearers are Robert Parrymore, Bobby Moore, Paul Parrymore, Cory Strange, Kenneth Hall, Jr., and Scott Strange. Burial will follow at Hughes Springs Cemetery under the direction of Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in Hughes Springs. There will be a time of visitation from 6 until 8 Friday evening at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriner's Children's Hospital, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, Louisiana 71103 or the Hughes Springs Cemetery Association C/O Elizabeth Wellborn, P.O. Box 475, Hughes Springs, Texas 75656.
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What a celebration in heaven.I know all our family and friends are together, and they are all so happy to see your Mother and Daddy together again. You are loved Carol as well as your family.
There are many happy memories with our Dads singing. He will be miss by those here but what reception he will be getting up there! Our prayers are with you and your family.
Rest in peace, Louis. It was a life well lived.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I have known your Dad for many years and always enjoyed his sense of humor and his love of life. May God enfold you in His loving arms and carry you through the days ahead. Sincerely, Carol Griffis
Louis was such a special man.We cherish the memories and the fun times we had.
I have very fond memories of our youth, many of which involved your family. I can still see your Mom and Dad dancing around the living room at your parties. I know they are having a joyful reunion!