James “Jim” Evans

James “Jim” Edward Evans, 99, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. He was born on December 5, 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri to the late Etheridge “Bozzy” and Sylvia Evans, and was the third of five children.

Jim attended grade school and high school in St. Louis, Catawissa Missouri, and Kentucky. In 1941, after hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor when he was just 19 years old, Jim joined the Coast Guard. During World War 2, Jim served on the USS Northland W49, and made many trips to Bluie West One, in Greenland.

When he was discharged from the Coast Guard in 1947, Jim returned to St. Louis, and Fourth Baptist Church, where he met his wife, Ernesteen “Ernie” B. Hughes. On June 8, 1948 they were married, by Rev. Oliver Shanks, and remained a devoted couple for 72 years until Ernie’s death in 2020.

Jim and Ernie lived in Chicago for the first years of their marriage, while Jim attended electronics school. They eventually moved back to the St. Louis area, where their family grew to include two daughters.

Jim began his career in the 1950’s working at the RCA Factory in the Service Department. In the 1960’s Jim became the District Service manager for Western Auto at the St. Louis warehouse. In 1980, Jim was transferred to Salina, Kansas, where he worked for the next 24 years. Jim retired from Western Auto in 1988 but came out of retirement in 1991 to work for Sears Roebuck & Company. He retired in 2001.

In 2004, Jim and Ernie moved to Kansas City to be closer to their daughter, Barb. They became members of the Leawood Baptist Church (now Hope Community).

With his diverse background in electronics, Jim was able to repair just about any appliance, small motor, or electronic device, and kept himself busy during his retirement years. He was an avid videographer of his family members’ sporting events and theater productions. Jim was also known for his never ending love of animals, including his childhood pet pig Sunshine and several dogs throughout the years, including Sam, Wally, and Ruby.

Jim leaves behind two daughters, Kathy (Gary) G’Sell, High Ridge, MO, Barb (Chris) Nichols, Leawood, KS; four grandchildren, Jamie G’Sell, Jeffrey G’Sell, Stephen (Kathryn) Nichols, Evan Nichols; one sister, Rene Piersol; a sister-in-law, Shirley “Jo” Dippel; and many dear friends, including Phil Kinen. Four of his siblings, Calvin, Roanna, Charlie, and David are with the Lord.

Jim will be remembered as a loving husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend. The family asks that memorials be sent to Hope Community (8200 State Line Rd. Leawood, KS 66206 and Wayside Waifs 3901 Martha Truman Rd. Kansas City, MO 64137).

Jim will be remembered as a loving husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend. The family asks that memorials be sent to Hope Community (8200 State Line Rd. Leawood, KS 66206 and Wayside Waifs 3901 Martha Truman Rd. Kansas City, MO 64137).