Jack Ray Evans

Jack Ray Evans, 94, passed away peacefully on April 26th, 2025, in Wewoka, Oklahoma. He was born in 1930 in Wewoka to Johnny Glenn and Jemmy D (Gordon) Evans. He was raised on a farm in Wewoka by his mother and stepfather, Jefferson Davis Evans. He was preceded in death by his wife Barbara and brothers John Glenn and James Glenn. He is survived by his stepdaughter, Barbara Conroy of Olympia, Washington, siblings Tommy Glenn and Willie Bobbitt, sister-in-law Nancy Shuman, and brothers-in-law John Lubic and William Lubic.
The values of hard work, creativity, and community service took root early in Jack's life. He worked in a lumber mill prior to graduating from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. As a young man, he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he lived for 54 years and built a distinguished career as a stockbroker and investment banker and became owner and president of a securities firm. Over the years, his diverse career included operating a mining company and founding a movie production company that co-produced the movie, Christmas Mountain, The Story of a Cowboy Angel, co-starring Slim Pickens.
Jack was also a co-founder with his late wife Barbara of PoetsWest, a literary journal and syndicated weekly radio show, and of the organization, Activists for a Better World. An author and an award-winning poet, Jack wrote eight books of poetry, three novels, six community histories, and was widely published in literary journals. A gifted writer who found both joy and solace in poetry, his words carried the same passion and depth that defined the way he lived life - thoughtfully, intentionally, and with great heart.
Despite his professional accomplishments, Jack never lost sight of his roots or his desire to give back. After the passing of his wife and partner Barbara, Jack returned to Wewoka in 2018 with a new mission, to start Glenn Kay Evans Farms, Inc., a non-profit corporation. His intentions were to have a farm that would grow hope as well as food by employing disadvantaged people and helping them make a fresh start by learning self-sustaining, no-till farming, and to help bring back prosperity to smaller rural communities.
Jack was also active in the community where he opened a book exchange called Barking Waters Book Exchange. Continuing in his desire to help other writers, he would hold weekly readings there. Jack was also a member of the Wewoka Lions Club and of the First Baptist Church.
A memorial service honoring Jack's life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 5, 2025 at the First Baptist Church in Wewoka. Jack's legacy will continue to bloom in the lives he touched, the seeds he planted, and the verses he penned, each a lasting reminder of a life well lived.
Services are under the care of Stout-Phillips Funeral Home. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jack, please visit our floral store.