Philip Glen Evans

The following is as posted in the Tri County Leader:

Our loving husband, father and granddad, Philip Glen Evans, entered into the presence of his heavenly Father on the morning of April 5, 2006.

A celebration of Glen's life was held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 8, at First Baptist Church in Troup, with the Reverend Mike Jeter officiating. Interment followed at Pinecrest Cemetery in Troup under the direction of Cottle Funeral Home.

Glen was born to Philip and Jessie Searcy Evans in the Griffin community outside of Troup on Oct. 27, 1940. He was the fifth of seven brothers and sisters. He attended Troup schools until his graduation in 1959. Following high school, he took advantage of a basketball scholarship to Lon Morris College and then spent his junior and senior years at Baylor University where he graduated in 1963.

After graduation, he pursued his passions of coaching and teaching young people. He began his career at Cleveland High School and moved back to his hometown of Troup in 1965 where he pursued and completed his masters degree at Stephen F. Austin University. During his 32 year career at Troup I.S.D., he enjoyed coaching, teaching and mentoring thousands of students, many who have called, written or visited him during his final days with encouraging words for the "Coach" who had inspired them as students.

As much as he loved his job, he loved his God and his church even more. As a member of First Baptist Church in Troup, he served as chairman of the deacons, taught Sunday School for many years, and served as a leader on numerous committees. He was also an active member of the community, serving on the board of the Troup Education Foundation. He was fundamental in the organization of the Troup Academic Booster Club and actively participated in the Kiwanis Club for many years.

He was an avid fisherman, never missing an opportunity to catch catfish on the Mississippi, white bass on the Trinity, or anything that would bite his hook on one of the area lakes. He also relished the occasional round of golf with his "buddies." Perhaps his greatest pastime was to spend time with his family, especially his four grandchildren. Nothing pleased him more than to watch them play the piano, participate in a game of soccer, basketball, or baseball, or perform at church and school.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-inlaw, Gene Gillis.

He is survived by the love of his life and his wife for the past 43 years, Kay Callender Evans. He is also survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Paula Evans of Whitehouse and his daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Clint Covington of Troup.

He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren Drew Evans, Haley Evans, Avery Covington and Cade Covington. He is also survived by his sisters, June Gillis, Joan Evans, Jean Evans and Linda Kay Evans, all of Troup; his brothers and sisters-in-law Dean and Jane Evans of Deer Park and Robert and Margie Evans of Tyler; his wife's sisters and their husbands, Betty Jean and Carrel Ramsey of Palacios and Helen and Jerry Cole of Bedias; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Jerry Cole, Carrel Ramsey, John Adams, Joe Layne, Buster Ledford, Carl McEver, Leroy Streck, and Buddy Turner.

Honorary pallbearers were deacons of FBC Troup, his men's Sunday School class and his nephews