It's said large families aren't conducive to generosity - siblings are left to fight for a smaller piece of the pie.
But Johnny Evans, with six sisters and one brother, was known for his generosity. He cared deeply about his family, and like his parents, he had eight children.
Ironically, he died at the hands of robbers and apart from his family.
"He was just a real, kind-hearted man," said sister Kayrisa Evans-Ezeufo. "He was very religious. He really believed in God (and in) doing things for other people. He loved to cook for everyone. One of his neighbors told me when they had a cookout in his neighborhood, he would be the one to cook."
Evans was shot and killed at about 1 p.m. Feb. 15 during a robbery in his apartment at Park Place Apartments in the 1100 block of East High Street. Across the door to Evans' first-floor apartment is a sign that reads: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15."
Evans' children are grown, and he is separated from his wife, Cassandra, who lives in St. Louis. The two still were close, and talked on the phone just 40 minutes before his death, Evans-Ezeufo said.
Evans also had a strong work ethic. He worked two jobs, including one for the News Tribune, and also did part-time handyman work for his landlord.
"He was a jack of all trades," Evans-Ezeufo said, adding that he often worked on cars and barbecued in his free time.
Evans came to Jefferson City close to two decades ago when his wife got a job here. He worked as a cook at the Jefferson City Correctional Center for about five years. He moved back to St. Louis for a time before returning to Jefferson City eight or nine years ago.
At the time of his death, Evans worked in the Helias Catholic High School cafeteria, as a cook and server.
Doug Light, the girls basketball coach at Helias, supervises the cafeteria during lunch and saw Evans there daily. Light said what struck him about Evans was his friendly personality and positive outlook.
"When you talked to him once, you felt like you've known him a long time," Light said. "You felt like you had a friend right off. (He was) very friendly, always had a smile on his face. The smile was contagious."
Light said the tone at Helias has been sadness and disbelief. "He was a guy people knew, and the kind of guy he was made it hard for people. There's just a lot of disbelief, people shaking their heads (saying), "I just don't understand this. Why?'"
Roosevelt Boocer knew Evans for more than a decade. At the time of Evans' death, the two worked at the News Tribune - Evans was a truck driver and Boocer is a carrier.
He said Evans always made people around him feel good.
"Johnny brought that smile out on everybody. I never saw him have a bad day," Boocer said. "
He was always a happy-go-lucky guy with a sense of humor. He really enjoyed what he did. When he accepted a position, he worked. He was dependable.
"I'm going to miss him."