Charles Wayne Evans

1919 - 2016

Charles Wayne Evans, 97, died Wednesday, March 23, 2016. Service: 2 p.m. Monday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole, with visitation beginning at noon. Interment: Tuesday in West Park Cemetery in Hereford. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Zona and Wayne Evans Scholarship Fund or The David Wayne Evans Endowed Cowboy Band Scholarship at Hardin-Simmons University, Box 16100, Abilene, Texas 79698, or at www.hsutx.edu; or Gambrell Street Baptist Church, 1616 W. Gambrell, Fort Worth Texas 76115. Charles Wayne Evans was born Jan. 16, 1919, in Happy, where he rode his horse "Ribbon" to school. He attended junior high in San Angelo while his beloved mother was a patient in nearby Carlsbad Tuberculosis Sanatorium. The family moved to Hereford in 1931. He graduated from Hereford High School and received a Cowboy Band scholarship to Hardin-Simmons University. While there, he was president of the Student Council and Alpha Chi Honorary Society before earning a bachelor of science in business administration. In 1940, he married Zona Elizabeth Horn. The couple made their home in Hereford where Wayne was a stock farmer and successful farm equipment retailer. He was organist at First Baptist Church, a deacon and a Sunday school leader. While president of the Hereford Deaf Smith County Chamber of Commerce, he received the Citizen of the Year award in 1946. During this time, he served on the executive board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He also served on HSU's board of trustees and the institution gave him the John J. Keeter Award for outstanding service and an honorary degree. In 1952, his life course changed when his cherished 3-year-old daughter, ZeeAnn, died in a motor vehicle accident. Wayne returned to HSU for graduate study and taught in the School of Business Administration. He was educational director of University Baptist Church while there. It was then that he received the call from Dr. J. Howard Williams to be business officer at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Wayne, Zona and son David moved to Fort Worth in 1954. Wayne served as business manager for 30 years, retiring in 1984 as vice president for business affairs. He served under Presidents J. Howard Williams, Robert Naylor and Russell Dilday. He and Zona were distinguished life members of the President's Club and created a charitable trust and endowment fund that support the Rebekah Naylor Chair of Practical Missions. Wayne oversaw the development of married student housing at the seminary, the student center, the recreation center and renovation of the residence halls. Two daughters, Lyn and Jan, were born and raised in Fort Worth. After his retirement, Wayne dedicated himself to the care of his developmentally disabled son, David, and continued his home gardening and outdoor work. He continued in service to others through his rental properties and other resources. While in Fort Worth, he and Zona were faithful members at Gambrell Street Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday school leader, deacon and organist. In 2012, he moved to San Antonio to be closer to family. He was predeceased by his wife, Zona; a daughter, ZeeAnn; son, David Wayne; grandson, William David Patterson; and brother, Raylan. Survivors: Daughter, Lyn Evans Demy and husband, Timothy Demy, retired U.S. Navy, of Middletown, R.I.; daughter, Dr. Jan Evans Patterson and husband, Dr. Thomas F. Patterson, of San Antonio; grandson, Evan F. Patterson, Esq., of San Antonio; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.