Charles Lamar Evans

Charles Lamar Evans was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on January 16, 1938, to Charlie and Myrtice Evans. In time, the family was completed with the addition of his beloved sister, Jane Ethridge (Bobby). Eventually, the family made their home in Marianna, Florida, a place that would shape much of the joy and friendship that filled their life.

Charles attended Marianna High School, where he played football and helped lead the team through an extraordinary record, losing only one game in three years. He loved the game, the camaraderie, and the lifelong friendships forged under those Friday night lights. After graduation, he attended Chipola Junior College, where Zanne Sims, a bright and sassy beauty, caught his eye and captured his heart. They were married on June 26, 1959, and their love endured for sixty-six years. Later, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—a covenant that shaped their lives and their love for family and faith.

Charles proudly served his country for eight years in the National Guard, including one year of active deployment. His service instilled in him a lifelong sense of duty, gratitude, and patriotism. He loved this nation deeply and never missed a chance to fly the American flag—a symbol of the freedom and honor he cherished.

He built his life and career in the automobile business, where his easy smile, honesty, and genuine warmth turned customers into lifelong friends. He had a gift for people—he remembered names, stories, and faces—and he lived by the quiet belief that everyone deserved to be treated with respect.

A devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Charles served faithfully in many callings. He traveled countless miles and gave countless hours in service to the Lord he loved. Along the way, he gathered friends from every road and every town—a living testament to his steady kindness and enduring faith. Together, Charles and Zanne raised five children—Zanna Clark (Murray), Eric C. Evans (Kellie), Jared Evans (Joy), Todd Evans (Anne), and Andra Temples (Lee). Their home was a place of laughter, hard work, and deep affection.

It’s rare in the procession of mankind to find a man like Charles—capable of silent determination, strict obedience, and tender love. He was steady in all things, living with quiet dignity and unshakable purpose. He and Zanne made their home at the same address for more than sixty-three years, moving in just before Christmas of 1962. In a world that changes quickly, that kind of steadfastness is remarkable—a reflection of the loyalty, patience, and love that marked his life.

But above all, Charles’s greatest joy was his family. He found happiness in simple moments—laughing with his children and their spouses (all of whom he lovingly called his own), and cherishing time with his thirty-six grandchildren and twenty-five great-grandchildren. His grandchildren adored him. To them, he was a hero, a teacher, and a steady presence whose stories, humor, and gentle wisdom shaped their lives. They knew him not only as “Granddaddy,” but as a man who showed them what love, faith, and humility look like in everyday life. His children and grandchildren alike loved him deeply and never doubted that they were loved in return.

His life was one of quiet service, steady love, and unfailing devotion—to God, to family, to country, and to the countless friends who will remember him with gratitude and affection and a man who lived what it means to be a true southern gentleman.

Funeral service will be 3 PM Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Jon Sims, Bro. Mike Sims, Bro. Petey Sims and Bro. Danny Sims officiating. Burial will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens with James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing.

The family will receive friends from 1:30 - 2:30 PM prior to the service in the Releaf Society Room at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The family wishes to thank all who have shared their love, prayers, and memories of Charles.