Sheila Mary Evans

Sheila Mary (Grady) Evans
(October 26, 1944 - January 4, 2026)

Sheila Evans, age 81, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2026, in McKinney, Texas.

The daughter of James and Elizabeth (Gilfillan) Grady, Sheila was born on October 26, 1944, in New York City. Proudly raised in Manhattan's Upper East Side, she attended Catholic middle and high school. Sheila went on to attend New England College - graduating with a degree in Early Childhood Education. It was also during her time at NEC that she met her husband, Ira Evans.

After college, Sheila stayed in New Hampshire, living, teaching 2nd Grade for several years, and then raising a family in Bow. In 1982, Sheila and Ira opened a successful family business, The Lighting Place, in Concord. She was active in the local community: with PTA, Women's Club, CCD, Chamber of Commerce, Bowling, & fundraisers.

Sheila retired in 2018 and moved to Lake Worth, Florida, where she and Ira took in the sights and sounds of the beautiful and lively West Palm Beach community - restaurants, ocean, and many spring training baseball games. After Ira passed in 2021, Sheila moved to Texas to be closer to her daughter Amy and to receive assisted living care.

Sheila's passions in life were clearly her family, friends, sports, and teaching.

As a mother, she was loving, ever-present, supportive, challenging to reach high standards - with focus on religion, trust, consistency, and personal responsibility. Any time spent with her family was treasured. Especially valuable was time with her kids, grandchildren, and her brother Jimmy and his family.

She carried life-long friendships from NYC as well as built many close relationships in New Hampshire. Sheila enjoyed being social and was always a visible force at any party she attended - where she loved to laugh, enjoy a glass of white wine, dance, share stories, and connect with others.

Sheila was preceded in death by Ira, her loving husband of 53 years.

She is survived by her brother James Grady and his wife Maria, and her three children: son Thomas and his wife Meghan; son David and his wife Jamie; and daughter Amy. Seven grandchildren - Lindsay, Owen, Courtney, Natalie, Liam, Colin, and Douglas. She leaves nephews Jeremy Evans, James Grady, Michael Grady, and nieces Christine Evans and Lauren Osborne. Also, Martha and Dean Osborne, sister and brother-in-law.

To honor Sheila, we ask that everyone who knew her share a special story or memory about her with your friends and loved ones.

Private graveside services will be held early this spring at the Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a local scholarship fund, to support & encourage continued education.