Evelyn Louise Gantz

1943 - 2024

Evelyn Louise Gantz

July 11, 1943 - April 29, 2024

Fort Worth, Texas - Evelyn Louise Elms Gantz, 80, passed away April 29, 2024 in Ft. Worth after a 10-year courageous battle with breast cancer.

In lieu of a formal celebration of her life, Evelyn opted for a simple committal service, as her ashes are interned. A short service of committal will be held 10:30 am, Friday, May 31, 2024, Greenwood Mausoleum, 3400 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, officiated by Lighthouse Fellowship.

In lieu of flowers, Evelyn's family requests contributions to Breast Cancer Research https://www.bcrf.org/ or the charity of your choice.

Evelyn was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on July 11, 1943, The third of four children to Lonnie Elms and Mildred Cecil Elms. She graduated from Shawnee High in 1961. Evelyn attended Oklahoma College for Women and Oklahoma Baptist University graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston.

In 1965 she met a young electrical engineer, Ron Gantz, from Rockford, Illinois, and they married in October 1966. She was most proud of the birth of their first son Jeff in 1969, his family and career as a Methodist minister; and the birth of Bryan in 1971, his family, and career as a Computer Science Engineer.

Evelyn and Ron moved to Houston from Oklahoma City in 1967 where she began her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist with the Clear Creek Independent School District. She retired in 1999 after 16 years and continued to contract for two more years with private school students. She loved working with students and helping them gain confidence as they corrected their disorders. With Ron's 2000 retirement, they moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and found a church home at Lighthouse Fellowship where they made many friends and served as hospital chaplains. Evelyn experienced much joy in being a part of her grandson's formative years. She enjoyed learning about their new hometown as they participated in the TCU Silver Frogs program. Evelyn made great friends in her quilting club and various neighborhood involvements.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents, Lonnie and Mildred Elms, and grandson, Nathan Maldonado.

Survivors include her beloved husband, Ron; son, Jeff (Kim) of Richmond, Texas; son, Bryan (Lianna) of Fort Worth; sister, Lois Scharrer of Owasso, OK; brother, Bob Elms (Mary Lou) of Highland Ranch, CO; and sister, Connie Engler (Ervin) of Middleburg, FL; grandson, Cody Gantz, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.