David M. "Jack" Evans, Jr.

David M. “Jack” Evans, Jr., age 98, of Paris, Tennessee, went to meet his savior on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

He was born on September 13, 1926, to David M. Evans Sr. and Reba Hunter Evans in Whitesville, West Virginia. 

Jack was a boatswain’s mate second class during World War II serving in the invasion of the Philippines, and was also a Navy veteran of the Korean war, serving aboard the USS Mispillion. After WWII he married Beulah “Boots” Hall, and went into construction trades, and was one of the workers who constructed the West Virginia turnpike highway. 

In 1964, Jack moved his family to Titusville, Florida to work for TWA on the Gemini space program. After TWA left, he worked for Boeing Services. He was involved in space projects from Gemini, and Apollo, through Sky lab, the Space Shuttle, Viking, and Galileo.

Jack worked for Lockheed during the Space Shuttle program and was one of the operators that in 1982 first mated the Shuttle to the 747 aircraft for transport at White Sands NM with mobile cranes. He retired from Lockheed in 1992.

Jack was a member of Point Pleasant Baptist Church, Buchanan, TN. He lived a long and productive life and is now with the Lord.

He is survived by his wife, Boots Evans; sister, Venna Marie Lilly; daughter, Mary (Mike) Browne; sons, Danny (Nancy) Evans, and Lincoln (Brenda) Evans; six grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, David Carl Evans; brother, Carl Evans; and sister, Betty Francisco.

Arrangements will be handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St., Paris, TN, 38242. The body will be cremated. Memorial visitation will be Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at Point Pleasant Baptist Church, with the memorial service beginning at 1:00 pm at Point Pleasant Baptist Church, with Robert McBroom and Larry Dukes officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Point Pleasant Baptist Church Building Fund, 13700 Hwy 79 N, Buchanan, TN 38222.