Obituary for Patricia Evans

Patricia “Patti” Jane Evans

July 24, 1930 – October 29, 2018

Patricia Jane Perdue Evans joined her heavenly Father on Monday, October 29, 2018 at the age of 88. The family will greet friends on Friday, November 2 at Patti’s home, 500 S. Prentice from 4-7pm. Visitation will be at Trout Funeral Home on Saturday, November 3 from 9am-8pm and Sunday, November 4 from 1-8pm. A funeral service will be held at 2:00PM on Monday, November 5th, 2018 at Grace Episcopal Church in Ponca City. Immediately following the service, she will be laid to rest next to her husband in the Mausoleum at Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Patti was born on July 24, 1930 in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the daughter of Lon M. and Mae Elizabeth (Purkey) Perdue. She graduated from Ponca City High School in 1948, and then worked for Continental Oil Company in the Touraid Department in Ft. Worth, Texas. While in Ft. Worth, Patti was hired by a local TV station to announce the evening weather forecast and the movie-feature on weekends. She moved back to Ponca City in 1955 and transferred to the Lease Records Division for Continental prior to marrying Lloyd “Jerry” Evans on October 7, 1961. Together, Pat and Jerry enjoyed forty years of laughter, friendships, family and building a corporate family before Jerry’s unexpected death on June 23, 2002.

Pat and Jerry started their local business with a small asphalt plant in Ponca City on April 15, 1960. Prior to their marriage, they spent most dates in a truck hauling sand from the sand pit to the asphalt plant for the next day’s business. Side by side, they grew their small company into eighteen subsidiary locations located throughout the state of Oklahoma. As her husband led the business enterprise, Patti became involved in many philanthropic endeavors with a strong passion for education and arts. Her desire to help others grew into a state wide initiative where she was honored to serve on the Boards of many organizations including Oklahoma Heritage Foundation, two terms on the Oklahoma Arts Council where she served as Chair from 2001 to 2003, National Assembly of State Art Agencies, University Learning Center Foundation as a Charter member and former Chair, Oklahoma Arts Institute, A+ Schools, Marland Mansion Foundation, Poncan Theatre Foundation, Poncan Theatre Endowment, Ponca City Arts and Humanities, Ponca City Main Street, Ponca City Art Center and the Whitney Gallery of Art located in the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming.

Subsequent to her husband’s death, Patti became the sole owner of Evans & Associates Enterprises, Inc. and served on the Board of Directors until the time of her death. “Corporate family” was not a term for Patti. She cared deeply for each and every person who made her company their career home. She will forever be remembered as the beautiful lady who could bring a crowd of three hundred employees to tears of laughter with her many funny quotes and stories, or bring them to tears with the heartfelt sincerity of how much she cared for them and their families. Her legacy will live on through the many employees and friends who were fortunate to be a part of her life.

Patti was honored to be the recipient of many awards and recognitions. She received the AAUW Outstanding Woman of the Year Award in 1997; Outstanding Service Award from the Oklahoma SmART Business Forum in 2002, Ponca City Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 2003, Oklahoma Governor’s Arts Award in 2004, and was the first woman asked to serve on the RCB Bank Board, was selected for the Wall of Honor in Ponca City’s Civic Center in 2009, was recognized by the Standing Bear Museum with the naming of the Patti and Jerry Evans Art Gallery dedicated in 2010, was recognized on the Marland Mansion Wall of Honor in 2010 for her contributions to the beautification of the Marland Estate, and was pleased to donate the Joe Saylor’s bronze “Boy Fishing” to the Marland Mansion for placement by the fishing pond on the grounds of the Mansion Estate. Her love for children will be forever remembered as future generations enjoy the beauty and solitude of that sculpture.

At the time of her death, Patti was President of the Lloyd I. and Patricia Perdue Evans Family Foundation benefitting many local charities. She was an active board member for the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, Standing Bear Monument and Museum, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Mid America Arts Alliance and International Women’s Forum, and an active member of Grace Episcopal Church in Ponca City.

In 2008, Patti founded the Evans Children’s Academy of Performing Arts. This organization provides opportunities to the youth of our community to participate in musical productions at The Poncan Theater. Combining her love for children and the arts, the Evans Children’s Academy was her greatest passion from its commencement until the end of her life. She attended each production and was overjoyed to give these children the platform to grow and shine onstage. One of her proudest moments, was watching her Great Granddaughter perform for the academy.

Patti is survived by her two sons, Bruce Evans (wife Janet), and Lee Evans (wife Laura), both of Ponca City; three grandchildren, Adam Evans, Kimberly Evans McCall (husband Mattee) and Lee Evans, Jr.; three great grandchildren, Madison McCall, Kourtney McCall, and Riley Evans.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lon and Mae; three sisters, Dorothy Perdue Stephenson, Velma Lee Perdue, and Thelma Jean Davies; brother, Mike Perdue; one grandson Thomas Stewart Evans, and her beloved husband Lloyd I. “Jerry” Evans.

Casket Bearers will be John Brown, Jimmie Bentley, Larry Currier, Glen Nickles, Steve Rohde, Jose Baeza and Fabian Gonzalez
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Honorary Pallbearers will be her corporate family from Evans & Associates, Carl Renfro, Fred & Sue Boettcher, Ike & Marybeth Glass, Barry & Lois Bickle, Meredith & John Sullivan, Rich Cantillon, Mary Harkins, Bayard Casey, Charlene Stingley, Pat Moore, Janelle Eichor, Sylvia Burns, Ruth Wetzel, Margaret West, Gerry McFadden and Wanda Westmoreland.

Special seating will honor her many friends in the book club (Reading Between the Wine), and the Directors of RCB Bank.

The family has suggested that should you wish to honor Patti, donations may be made to Evans Children’s Academy (% Poncan Theatre Foundation noted for the Academy) or Marland Estate Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Source: Trout Funeral Home