Donald Evans

Reverend Donald Eugene Evans, 82, of Jefferson City, Missouri, died Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Donald was born August 28, 1934, in Kirksville, Missouri. He was the son of John Junior Evans and Freeda Christeen (Peterson) Evans. He married Azelene Kelley on May 28, 1957, at Hamilton Street Baptist Church, Kirksville, Mo. Donald graduated from Kirksville Senior High School, Kirksville, Mo., in 1952. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1959 from Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Mo., and a Master of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, in 1968. He also studied at Midwestern Baptist Seminary, Kansas City, and New Orleans Baptist Seminary. His doctoral work was at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary, San Francisco, Calif. Don became a Christian when he was six years old. He made his commitment to ministry September 31, 1954, and he was licensed to preach by First Baptist Church, Kirksville. He was ordained February 16, 1958, by First Baptist Church, Maryville. He spent his entire life working with college students, youth, and adults on the local, regional and state levels. During his time at Southwestern Seminary, Don served as student body president, and captain of the Bahama Mission Team. The 14 seminary students, headquartered in Nassau, served for nine weeks in the summer of 1966. In the summer of 1967, he was the Staff Recreation Director for Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly Black Mountain, North Carolina. Don was a member of Southwestern Singers while in Seminary. Don served as Staff Chaplain at Capital Region Medical Center, Jefferson City, from 1997 until October 2006. He was a Chaplain for Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, in the emergency room from 1992 to 1997. Don served on the staff of the Missouri Baptist Convention, Jefferson City. Churches he served included Worthington Baptist Church, Worthington, Mo.; Hamilton Street Baptist Church, Kirksville; First Baptist Church, Maryville; First Baptist Church, Natchitoches, La,; and Novinger Baptist Church, November, Mo. Don was also the Director of Missions for the Kirksville Divisional Baptist Mission Board 1978 to 1981. He was the Campus Minister for the Baptist Student Ministries Department of Missouri from 1957 to 1965 at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville. Using his many talents, Don shared his life with others by giving. His priority was his family and taking care of them. He sang tenor in a radio quartet in Kirksville early in his ministry. He also sang in church choirs. He was a potter and artist, and was excellent with a crochet hook. He was a great cook. Don loved the stage and enjoyed both acting and being in the audience. He shared flower arrangements and his hot cinnamon rolls with hospital staffs. Don loved to camp and RV travel with his family and enjoyed traveling in retirement. Friends called him a compassionate man. Don's special gift was his ability to relate to people, and he took great pleasure in helping them. The friends he made became friends for life. During his time as Staff Chaplain at Capital Region Medical Center, Don served three terms as a member of the Capital Region Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees. He was a lifetime member of the Board of Governors of Capital Region Medical Center. He was a Board Certified Chaplain with The College of Chaplains and was a member in good standing with the American Academy of Bereavement Association. Donald is survived by his wife, Azelene, and his children: David and his wife Gretchen of Kansas City, and Douglas and his wife Deana of Kansas City. His grandsons, Jordan Evans and Jacob Evans, and Riley Evans and Tucker Evans, also survive him. Don is survived by one sister, Cathy Baldwin (Charles) of Kirksville, Mo., and one sister-in-law, Carol Kelley of Cottage Grove, Wis. Also surviving are nieces, nephews, great-nieces, a great-nephew and cousins. His parents, a brother-in-law, and a nephew preceded him in death. Visitation is scheduled at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 15, 2017, at First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, Mo. The Celebration Service will follow at 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Private burial will be at Riverview Cemetery, Jefferson City. Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to one of the following organizations: Capital Region Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 1128, Jefferson City, MO 65102; or First Baptist Church Music and Youth Ministries, 301 East Capital Avenue, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street; (573) 636-3838. Condolences may be left for the family online atwww.millardfamilychapels.com