Hilmer Evan Evans, age74, of Murphy, Texas, was released from suffering on November 26, 2012. Born December 9, 1937, Glen Ridge, New Jersey to Josephine VanNosdeln and H. Mansell Evans. Raised in New Albany, Indiana, and proudly graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy, Lebanon, Tennessee. Enlisted in the U. S. Navy and qualified and completed Nuclear Power School and entered the Submarine Service. He married Barbara Shugart and they had two children, Robinson Michael and Penelope Tanquary. During his Naval service he served on USS Chopper USS John Adams, USS Woodrow Wilson and USS Bergall.He retired from the U. S. Navy in 1978.
In 1983, He married Mary Ellen Johansson. He graduated from Roger Williams University, Briston, Rhode Island, with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology 1986. He served as editorial writer for the school newspaper.In 1989, he received his Master’s Degree from Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, in Technical Writing and taught Technical Writing to Freshman. He was also employed by Software 2000 in Massachusetts. He went on to complete a certificate program in Entrepreneurial Studies from Southeastern Massachusetts University, South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and offered technical writing services as H. E. Evans, Inc., New Bedford, Massachusetts. They moved to Texas in 1994 and he became a reporter for the Wylie News until he retired in 1997.
His life’s interests were as wide as they were varied and his passion for knowledge was inspiring. He also loved the common, everyday occurrences that we often miss: spiders spinning a web, bird’s nests hidden away, creative mailboxes, oddities in furniture.
He was active throughout his life in various activities and his curiosity and his incredible sense of humor were contagious to those around him. He participated in church activities including teaching Sunday School and singing in the choirs. He owned a 21 foot Elko wooden boat and sailed it out of Newport News, Virginia. Continuing his contact with the military services, he was a member of the Castle Heights Alumni class of 1957 and returned to Lebanon, Tennessee, for Homecomings and for family reunions. He was also a member of the US Submarine Veterans, Dallas Chapter, The American Legion, and Fleet Reserve Association. He also retired from the Murphy, Texas, Volunteer Firefighter’s Association.
He loved to travel and joined the Wally Byam Caravan Club (WBCCI), an Airstream Owners’ Association. He and his wife were members of the North Texas Unit and soon volunteered for office. Having completed his term as Unit President, he went on to serve as President of Region 9, which includes Texas and Oklahoma units. He was especially proud of his service to the club. They attended International Rallies across the United States and Canada, towing their Airstream. He and his wife recently completed a weeklong trip through Wales where he did genealogy research in Cardiff. He found his grandfather’s home and was thrilled to meet the folks who have cared for the farm for many years.
Along with this love of travel, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning acreage and farming. He and wife are restoring the tall grass prairie using native grass seed and conservation strategies to preserve and provide wildlife habitat and protect the watershed. They are members of the Native Prairie Association of Texas and are cooperators with Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma. He also loved to read and was a volunteer reader at the local elementary schools where he also was a substitute teacher. He also loved music both classical and country and was learning to play the “squeezebox”. Always smiling, patient, who saw good in everyone.
He is predeceased by his first wife, Barbara Shugart Evans and his step-son, David Christoffel. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Johansson Evans; step daughter Sarah Christoffel of Murphy, Texas; daughter Penelope Evans of East Hampton, Massachusetts; son Mike Evans and his wife Lindsey of North Conway, New Hampshire; sister Gwynn Evans of Knoxville, Tennessee; and grandchildren Trinnis, Emily, and Lane Christoffel.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Sunday, December, 2012, at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home, 5100 I-30E, Greenville, Tx, with visitation beginning at 1 PM until service time. Burial will be at 11:15 AM Monday, December 3, 2012, at Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.