James D. Evans

James D. Evans passed away Dec. 10, 2009 in Pueblo. He was born in Coal Creek on August 2. 1924 to John and Nettie Evans and had lived in this area all of his life. Jimmy graduated from Florence High School and immediately went on to serve his country in the Marine Corps celebrating his 18th birthday aboard a Troop Ship on the way to Guadalcanal. During WWII he also fought in Bouganville, Guam and Iwo Jima where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. He was later recalled and continued to serve as a Platoon Sergeant at Inchon and Chosin Reservoir in Korea. Following his military service, he was employed as a Civil Engineer at the Pueblo Army Depot for many years before retiring in 1981. Mr. Evans was a member of Silver State Lodge #95 AF & AM, Eureka Lodge #66 AF & AM in Coal Creek, served as Grand Tiler of the Grand Lodge of AF & AM of Colorado in 1995. He was Potentate of Al Kaly Shrine in 1982, was a 33 Degree, Honorary, member of the Southern Colorado Scottish Rite and served as the Secretary for ten years. As Potentate in January of 1982 James D. "Jimmy" Evans was a founding father of the Pueblo Shrine Clubas well as a founding father of the Honored Ladies Club of Al Kaly Shrine. Jimmy also was a member of the Royal Order of Scotland, the Grand Master’s Club of Colorado, Pueblo York Rite Bodies and the Marine Corp League of Colorado Springs. In 1972 Jimmy was the Boy Scouts of American Jamborie Director, was the secretary for 17 years of Cabiri #43, the Director of Initiation and in 1990 was the Director of R.O.J. in addition to being the longtime secretary. He was preceded in death by his siblings; Henry and Charles Evans and Bertha Smith. Jimmy is survived by his wife of 61 years, Eloise “Lois” of the family home, his son James D. “Buck” Evans of Alaska, a sister-in-law Helen Porter and numerous Cousins, nieces and nephews including Thomas Smith. Mr. Evans will lie in state at the mortuary from 2 PM until 6 PM on Tuesday. Funeral services, including the Rose Croix Memorial Rites will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009 at 2:00 PM in the First United Methodist Church, 11th and Court. Interment will follow with Masonic burial rites by Silver State Lodge #95 and Military Honors by the U.S. Marine Corps in the Imperial Cemetery. Donations in memory of Jimmy may be made to the Al Kaly Shrine Transportation Fund or the Charity of your choice, direct or through the mortuary. Online condolences at DavisMortuary.com.