James Evans

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James E. Evans, 66, of Waco, passed away Wednesday morning, February 7, 2007 at his residence.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the OakCrest Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Thomas Roberson, the Rev. Curtis Holland, and the Rev. D. L. Harvey officiating.

After the service, the procession will be lead by an antique horse-drawn hearse to the Oakwood Cemetery for burial with military honors.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 8, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque. A memorial video honoring his life will be shared during the visitation hours.

James was born April 10, 1940 at Ratcliff to Palmer and Hattie (Vinson) Evans. He attended Kennard High School. He entered the Navy in 1958, and served on the USS Bolster stationed in Hawaii. After his discharge in 1962, he served in the Navy reserves for two years.

He attended 4C Business School in Waco, and went to work for Oakwood Cemetery as the cemetery foreman on February 15, 1968. He became the Manager and Executive Secretary in 1976, and has served in this position since then. He received his Associates Degree in Applied Science from McLennan Community College in 1976.

He dedicated his life to two main interests: his family and Oakwood Cemetery. He married Margaret Crabtree on November 24, 1962 in Kountze, and she works in the Oakwood Cemetery office as the Office Secretary. During his tenure at Oakwood, he has overseen over 25,000 burials. He treated every family, whether wealthy or poor, with the utmost respect and dignity, and could recall the burial sites of families immediately.

He enjoyed giving personal tours of the cemetery, pointing out the historical monuments and giving family histories. He strived to keep the cemetery beautiful and well groomed, and worked many extra hours helping families make burial arrangements. He recently managed the purchase of adjacent land making more room for future burials.

He was a graduate of the Citizens Police Academy, and remained a constant supporter of the Waco Police Department where he was also involved in the Citizens on Patrol program. He was president of the Oakwood Neighborhood Association, headed the LaSalle Avenue Beautification Program, served on the City of Waco Citizens Advisory Committee on Trees, and just finished serving on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Proposed 2007 Bond Election. He was a long time member of the Waco Rotary Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Charles Evans, and a grandson, Bryan Evans.

James is survived by his wife, Margaret; son, David Evans and wife, Vicki; daughter, Denise LeFever; grandchildren, Brent Evans, Shelby LeFever, and Nathan LeFever; sister, Jean Doss and husband, Wayne of Pollok; mother and father-in-law, the Rev. and Mrs. L.E. Crabtree, and sisters-in-law, Mavis Evans of Pollok, Karen Hulsey, and Carolyn Brown.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Hulsey, Bradley Hulsey, Randall Smith, Charles Lee Evans, Jared Abbe, Luis Almaguer, Brent Evans and Gary LaFever.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Oakwood Board of Directors; Joe Cervantez, foreman of Oakwood Cemetery; Oakwood Cemetery employees; the Morning Coffee Group at George's; the area funeral directors; Citizens on Patrol and the Citizens Police Academy.

Memorials may be made to Church of the Redeemed, P.O. Box 154778, Waco, TX 76715, or to the charity of your choice.