JAMES ALVIN EVANS

07/22/1941 - 02/23/2023

James Alvin “Jimmy” Evans, 81, will long be remembered for his fierce loyalty to his family and friends, a work ethic that wouldn’t let him quit, and a strength of spirit that helped him survive hard times and tremendous loss.

He was a man of many talents. He could take something broken and make it like new again. Appliances, cars, boats, and houses -- he could troubleshoot a problem and find the answer without any outside help. When he couldn’t get what he needed at a store - or was too thrifty to buy it -- he made it himself. He carved his own large geometry compass for drawing big circles, and he invented and built a socket wrench to handle super-sized bolts. He restored a boat that provided his family with many “Good Times” on the water, and he designed a two-story garage that gave his oldest son a place to rebuild the engine in a vintage truck. Jimmy also helped build a house for his parents, and for several years he planted and tended a garden that grew so many vegetables there was enough to share with neighbors. He canned pickles and okra from the garden, and the turnips he grew made their way into the family meals disguised as potatoes. Jimmy was a good cook and he added as much black pepper as possible to his homemade chicken and rice soup to give it that extra zip. Jimmy had a heart for animals; he adopted stray dogs and fed homeless cats because he couldn’t stand the thought of an animal going hungry. He owned and operated the Whistle Stop Barbecue on Old Galveston Road and won the highly coveted Blue Ribbon Award from Houston’s own Marvin Zindler for his high standards of excellence in food service.

Jimmy was a good father who set high standards for his children, too. He loved them enough to teach them right from wrong. He showed them by example what it means to be an honorable and honest man, and he made sure to include his children in the hard work of life and the rewards it brings.

He was too tough to let gallbladder cancer beat him, so he beat it instead.

He is survived by Sandra, his wife of 60 years, his daughter Malinda Evans Aiken (Taylor) and grandchildren Jennifer Adams Garrett (Jonathan), Jessica Aiken, and Avery Aiken; daughter Marcy Evans Cole (Michael) and grandchildren Hunter and Aubree; son Mason

Evans (Heather) and granddaughter Macey.

Jimmy is also survived by his great grandchildren Cheyenne, Adalida, and Aiden Garrett, his siblings Kenneth Evans, Bill Evans, and Eleanor Evans and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

He is predeceased by his parents Clyde and Linda Evans, his sisters Margie Vernon and Jean Watson, and his son Mark James Evans.

Jimmy was one of a kind, and he will be missed.

Graveside service will be held at 11am 3/11/23 at Forest Park East Funeral Home.