EVANS – Thomas William Evans passed away peacefully on Monday, October 17, 2005 at the age of 85 years. Tom was born February 9, 1920 to Enoch and Margaret Evans.  “He was born, lived his whole life, and died in the same house we live in today.  Tom was the youngest of two children and he went to school two miles southeast of his home until Grade 8.  “He received an award for perfect attendance, but we are not sure for how many years or which of those years.  During school and after he left, Tom helped his Dad farm the one and a half sections of land we still own today. “In 1959, Tom married Esther Jensen, a nurse he met while in the hospital, and to this union four girls were born.  Tom and Esther worked hard on this mixed farming operation to make a good life for themselves and their children.  Once, a friend of Tom’s asked him why he was still farming in his eighties and why he didn’t want to retire and try something else.  Tom said, “It’s all I’ve ever known.”  We think that Dad loved farming too much to give it up.  Even when most of his memory was gone, he still wanted to know where the cows were so he could feed them, and if the horses had been fed and watered.  “We’re not sure when exactly, but sometime in the 1990’s, Tom developed dementia.  Slowly, agonizingly, this disease took away his present, then his past and finally his future.” Tom was predeceased by his mother, Margaret in 1947; father, Enoch in 1968; brother-in-law Bill Stannard in 1967; sister, Nancy Stannard in 1986; nephew, Barry Claridge in 1999; great niece, Solveig Runnarsdotter in 1999; aunt, Mary Jones in 1947; cousin Ted Jones in 1945; uncle, Bill Jones in 1967; sister-in-law, Eva Boomer in 1980; father-in-law Jacob Jensen in 1981; mother-in-law Martha Jensen in 1985; and sister-in-law, Carla Jensen in 2005.  Tom leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Esther; daughters Colleen (Dan) Kinakin, Margaret, Angie and Barbie; cousin, Trevor Jones; granddaughters Tanis and Maralee; nephew Doug (Judy) Stannard and family, and niece, Eileen Claridge and family; plus six sisters-in-law and their families and two brothers-in-law and their families. Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 22, 2005 in the Coronation Community Centre at 1 p.m. with Dallas Hjorth officiating.  Barbie Evans gave a loving tribute in memory of her father.  Lil Anderson, Dan Kinakin and Terry Checkel provided the music for the congregational hymns “He Giveth More Grace,” “He The Pearly Gates Will Open,” “and “When We All Get To Heaven.”  Lindie Tolmie gave a tribute in song.  The active pallbearers were Ron Heidecker, Ron Nelson, Ken Black, Nolan Thulien, Russ Kinakin, Melvin Reister, David Glasier, and Don Stephenson.  Honourary pallbearers were “All of Tom’s Family and Friends.”  The interment took place in the Coronation Cemetery followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments in the Coronation Community Centre prepared by the Ladies of the Evangelical Free Church. Should friends desire memorial contributions may be made in Tom’s memory to the Gideons or to a charity of the donors choice. Parkview Funeral Chapels & Crematorium “Families Serving Families” throughout East Central Alberta were entrusted with the care and funeral arrangements, Dean Ross or Verna Rock, 578-3777.  Back to Obituary page