ASH – James Rogie “Fess” Evans, 90, of Ash, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 in the SECU Hospice House of Brunswick, following complications with dementia.
Mr. Evans was born on Sept. 29, 1925, in Brunswick County and was a lifelong resident of Ash. He was an example of true friendship, dedication to family, and community and will greatly be missed by all who knew and loved him.
He was the son of the late Lonnie and Rutha Canady Evans. He was preceded in death by his two loving wives, Myrle Hulon Evans and Mitchelle Causey Evans;and three brothers, Lewis Cleyon Evans, Cecil D. Evans and Willie Auburn Evans.
After graduating from Waccamaw High School in 1943, Mr. Evans proudly joined the US Navy and received his honorable discharge in Norfolk, Virginia, in February 1946. He attended Campbell College and was the first insurance agent in Brunswick County to sell federal crop insurance. In 1956, he joined International Longshoreman’s Union and worked at Sunny Point, Southport, until he retired in 1987.
He was a faithful, life-long member of Soldier Bay Baptist Church. He lived a life that reflected his love for God and his love for all mankind.
He was a member of Shallotte Masonic Lodge and the Sudan Temple.
Mr. Evans loved bluegrass music and was an avid golfer with his longtime friend, Paul Brummett. He enjoyed singing and playing his guitar and dulcimer and laughed every time the family dog, Daisy, would wag her tail.
Surviving are his devoted son, John Auburn Evans, and wife, Pam, of Ash; his granddaughter, Tracy Myrle Evans, of Shallotte; his grandson, James Ernest Evans, and wife, Amanda, of Wallace; grandson, Richard James Boatwright, and wife, Angie, of Sanford; and granddaughter, Wendy Boatwright Henderson and husband, Chris, of Dillon, South Carolina; four great-grandchildren, Felicity Evans, Joshua Evans, Devin Evans and Kinsley Henderson; a sister, Avis Lay Williams, and husband, John A., of Mebane; three sisters-in-law; Claire T. Evans, of Ash, Teresa H. Gillespie, of Lowgap, Bron H. Dixon, of Mobile, Alabama.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in the Brunswick Funeral Service Chapel by the Reverend Charlie Smith and the Reverend Jason L. Benton. Burial will follow in the Brunswick Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Soldier Bay Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 10, Ash, NC 28420, or the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, or the SECU Hospice House of Brunswick, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.
Private online condolences may be sent to the family at www.brunswickfuneralservice.com.