Obituary of Jean Evans

Jean Evans, loving sister and aunt, passed away on Sunday, September 2, 2007. A celebration of Jean's life will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at the First Baptist Church in Troup with Rev. Mike Jeter and Rev. Mike Cline officiating. Interment will follow at Griffin Cemetery near Troup under the direction of Cottle Funeral Home. A visitation will be held at Cottle Funeral Home in Troup from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, September 3. Jean was born to Philip and Jessie Searcy Evans in the Griffin community outside of Troup on January 1, 1932. After graduating from Troup High School in 1949, she pursued an education in business and received an associate degree from Tyler Junior College. She spent over fifty years in the business field as a bookkeeper and banker. Although she held many titles, ranging from clerk to vice president, she is likely best remembered for her willingness to volunteer her time and services to numerous members of the community who sought assistance with financial matters. Her dedication to her career was rivaled only by her devotion to her Savior and church. As a member of the First Baptist Church in Troup, she served in a number of capacities throughout the church. One of her favorite positions was as a Sunday school teacher to the preschool class where she was often found sitting on the floor working a puzzle or singing silly songs. Jean also enjoyed working as a volunteer with the Troup Women's Civic Organization, which she co-founded in 1982. Jean was also a sports enthusiast and an avid outdoors person. Her favorite pastime was to watch a good basketball or football game, usually one that involved a niece or nephew. During family gatherings, it was usually "Aunt Jean" who served as the guide on expeditions to the "Blue Hole", to build forts or to feed the cows. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Glen Evans, and her brother-in-law, Gene Gillis. She is survived by her sisters, June Gillis, Joan Evans, and Linda Kay Evans all of Troup; her brothers and sisters-in-law Dean and Jane Evans of Deer Park and Robert and Margie Evans of Tyler; her sister-in-law, Mary Kay Evans of Troup as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Greg Evans, Mark Evans, Matt Evans, Steve Evans, David Gillis and Clint Covington. The family would like to request that memorials, if desired, be sent to the building fund at First Baptist Church (P.O. Box 516, Troup, TX 75789) or the Troup Education Foundation (Attn: Troup H.S. Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 125, Troup, TX 75789).