BETTY SUE EVANS

Betty Sue Evans, 86, resident of Panama City, Fla., died Jan. 12, 2013.

A graveside services will be held at 11 a.m., Fri., Jan. 18, at Greenwood Cemetery in Florala.

She was born in Florala on Jan. 11, 1927. She was the sixth child of John Henry and Vera Lee Evans. She had four sisters and one brother, all older than she. In fact, her nearest sibling was 10-years older than Betty Sue. Needless to say, she was the favorite of the family.

Her first 12 years of school were spent in Florala, her hometown. After graduating from Florala High School, she entered Judson College in Marion. She later transferred to Montevallo College, now University of Montevallo, where she graduated with a degree in social studies. After her first year of teaching, she decided to enter graduate school at Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn. Her next adventure in teaching was spent on Gunter Mountain at the Grant Daughters of the American Revolution School in Alabama. Along with her duties as a teacher, she was required to teach a Sunday school class and help with rummage sales monthly.

Soon, she found her niche in Panama City, Fla. There, she taught at Everett Junior High as a classroom teacher, a special education teacher and a guidance counselor.

When Rutherford High School was built, she was selected as a member of the founding faculty. Rutherford was her heart and soul for many years. Later in her career, she transferred to Bay High School until she retired.

At Rutherford and Bay High, she served as social studies department chairperson. Her legacy as a dedicated educator brought her the love and respect of many faculty members and students.

Some of her greatest pleasures were encountering former students, hearing them reminisce about their days in Ms. Evans’ classroom and having them update her on their life quests. Today, she remains a most important educational influence in her students’ lives.

Along with teaching, she found great pleasure in being a daughter, sister and aunt. After retiring, she became involved in the world of genealogy and travel. She eventually compiled the results of her research into treasured notebooks for each of her nieces and nephews.

In addition to being an outstanding teacher and successful genealogical researcher, she was a member of the Bay County (Fla.) Retired Educators, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John Henry and Vera Lee Griñìn Evans; her sisters, Verna Mae Evans Clepper, Vehna Lee Evans, Mary Louise Evans Howell and Sybil Eugenia Evans Meredith; and one brother, John Truman Evans.

She is survived by her longtime close friend, Thelma Bruce; 13 nieces and nephews, L. D. Clepper, Mary Lee Clepper Bergeron, Jean Evans Hofstad, John Truman Evans, Jr., Becky Evans Cassady, Henry Evans, Joy Evans Woodham, Bob Meredith, Barbara Meredith Nichols, Katy Sue Meredith Wells, Pam Meredith Brannon and Cindy Meredith Thompson and Velma Howell Caviness; and many, many grand nieces and nephews and great­-grand nieces and great-grand nephews.

The family welcomes flowers, c/o Evans Family at 501 3rd Street, Florala, or donations made to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011.