William Earl Evans, Sr.

William “Bill” Earl Evans, Sr., 88 Lakeland - William “Bill” Earl Evans, Sr. passed away June 21, 2017. He was born on October 15, 1928, in Mattoon, Illinois to Russell Henry Evans and Gladys Rardin Evans. He lived his earliest years in Mattoon, later moving to Tucson, Arizona where he attended Tucson High School and played football (nose-guard) with Colonel Frank Borman who was the quarterback. He attended the University of Arizona, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Upon graduation, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant and served 14 months of his time in Korea as Tank Commander in the 82nd and 102nd Airborne Division at Indian Patch. Afterward he returned to Arizona and entered the cattle business, starting as a feed representative to the numerous feed yards, eventually acquiring his own feed yard east of Scottsdale on the Pima Indian Reservation. He did many charitable things for them and was honored by them as Grand Marshall in their Pow Wow Parade. He was very active in the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association. Bill married Julie Catherine Perry on August 19, 1955. They had 5 children: Bill, Jr. (Melody), Susan Perkins (Bill), Russell (Vanessa), Dean (Renee) and Perry (Bonnie); six grandchildren: Austin and Ethan Evans, Sarah Perkins, Erica Scott, Brittney Zoeller and Paxton Evans; and one great grandchild, Evan Zoeller. In 1973, he moved his family to Florida to become a cattle rancher. He was chairman of University of Florida Share Council. Bill was a member of First Baptist Church at the Mall. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 3470 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33805 or Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, 1015 Sikes Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33815. A family visitation will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 8, 2017, at Heath Funeral Chapel, 328 S. Ingraham Avenue in Lakeland with a memorial service following at 11:00 am. A reception in the Tribute Center will immediately follow the service.