Henry Evans

Patriarch of the Evans Line Henry Evans was born in Texas in 1899, the son of H. P. Evans. He came of age during the early twentieth century, a period when African American families in East Texas built strong communities despite the limitations of segregation and unequal opportunity. Henry's life became closely connected with Moore Station, a historically African American community in Henderson County, Texas. On December 26, 1918, Henry married Gertrude Cofer in Smith County, Texas. In the historical marriage index, Gertrude's name was recorded as "Gertie Coffer," reflecting one of the spelling variations commonly found in older public records. Henry and Gertrude would share nearly sixty years of marriage and build a large family whose descendants continued their legacy throughout Texas and beyond. Henry and Gertrude were the parents of eleven children: • Olious Donald Evans • Ira Lewis Evans • Edward Phillip Evans • Henry Lee Evans • Maxie Dan Evans • Ester F. Evans • Jeffrie D. Evans, Sr. • Allison Evans • Bonnie L. Evans • Leo Daniel Evans • Juanita Evans Together, Henry and Gertrude raised their children in the Moore Station community. Their household represented the strength of the large, closely connected families that formed the foundation of community life in rural East Texas. Raising eleven children required determination, sacrifice, cooperation, and a deep commitment to family. The Evans family became connected by marriage and community ties to many other longtime Moore Station families, including the Cofer family. Henry's marriage to Gertrude joined two important family lines whose descendants would make contributions in education, business, government service, the military, law enforcement, ministry, and community leadership. The accomplishments of Henry and Gertrude's children demonstrate the values that were passed down through the family. Their descendants served their country in the United States Armed Forces, pursued careers in federal and local government, became business owners, participated in church and community life, and raised families of their own. Among their children and descendants were individuals who served in the United States Air Force, the United States Army, the United States Postal Service, the Food and Drug Administration, law enforcement, business, education, and other areas of public service. Henry lived through a remarkable period of American history. Born near the end of the nineteenth century, he witnessed the nation's transition from a largely rural society into the modern era. His lifetime included two world wars, the Great Depression, major changes in transportation and technology, and the struggle for civil rights. Through these changing times, the family Henry and Gertrude established remained his most enduring contribution. Henry died in 1978. He is associated with Bethel Cemetery in Moore Station, Texas, where Gertrude and numerous members of the Cofer, Evans, Cumby, Hightower, and other area families are also memorialized. Gertrude lived until 1986. Henry Evans's legacy is found not only in historical records, but also in the lives of his eleven children and their many descendants. Through the family he built with Gertrude Cofer Evans, his name, heritage, and influence have continued across generations. He is remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, and patriarch whose life helped establish the foundation upon which succeeding generations of the Evans family were able to build.

Buried, with Gertrude, at Bethel Cemetery in Moore Station.