Theodore Roosevelt Evans

December 10, 1917 - April 25, 1997

                                                                                                                                                           U.S.N.                                                                                       Free Masonry                                  Wales

PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC... On Friday, April 25th, 1997 Theodore Roosevelt Evans; descendant of an early American Pioneer family, a faithful Christian, a patriotic American, a loving and affectionate Husband, a devoted and supportive Father, extraordinary businessman and financier, loyal Friend to all who knew him, kind and considerate to all who met him... succumbed to illness and died peacefully in his sleep at Georgetown Memorial Hospital, Georgetown, South Carolina at the age of 79 years, 4 months and 15 days.

His loving wife, Helen Hope Knight Evans of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, who was his best friend and partner for 57 wonderful years of marriage was at his side. The world was a better place because of this man, and with his passing... it is a lessor one.

Born December 10, 1917 in Collinsville, Oklahoma he was the only son of the late Royal Acel and Mable Grace Sanger Evans of Collinsville and Tulsa, Oklahoma. He graduated from Collinsville High School in 1936 and lettered in all four sports and was a Decathlon champion. Mr. Evans earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration/Finance from Tulsa University in 1940. Mr. Evans had served in the United States Navy as a Reserve Lieutenant aboard the Attack Transport USS Diphda AKA 59 in numerous battles all over the South Pacific during World War II from 1943 to 1946. His career began after W.W.II when he joined The Associates Investment Corporation (now known as The Associates Corporation of North America, Dallas, Texas) and worked his way up through the ranks by 1966 to become the youngest President of a Billion Dollar consumer finance company with more than 1,000 offices (that was not a captive of the automotive companies like GMAC, FMC) and served in that capacity until 1974. He was an early advocate and architect of the Uniform Commercial Code and the Truth In Lending Acts. As a corporate entrepreneur and visionary he was one of the first branch operators to design and implement an effective on-line computer network for the finance business (circa. 1967-69). He was a long time friend and the earliest financier of the legendary Sam Walton of Wal-Mart fame. From 1974 to 1979 he owned the largest Chevrolet Dealership in South Carolina (Evans Chevrolet, Greenville, SC). He owned the historic Pelican Inn (The Weston House) on Pawleys Island since 1969. He was a long time member of the Buncombe Street Methodist Church in Greenville, SC and as a Charter member of St. Pauls Waccamaw United Methodist Church at Pawleys Island, SC he was instrumental in its early formation and growth. Mr. Evans was a life member honorary 34th degree Mason of the Will Rogers Lodge #53 Claremore-Tulsa, Oklahoma and the St. Joseph Lodge #45 of South Bend, Indiana. He was a life member of the Poinsette Club in Greenville, SC and the honored and past president (7 times 1986 to 1993) of the Pawleys Island Civic Association. Mr. Evans holds the high honor as a Designated Son of Oklahoma by the Will Rodgers Foundation. As an advisor, counselor, mentor, and friend to many prominent business, industry, political and religious personages... he will be missed.

With his passing he leaves behind a large and caring family of three sons: Theodore M. Evans of Atlanta, Georgia, John C. Evans of Greenville, South Carolina and David R. Evans of Pawleys Island, South Carolina; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren; one sister June Doreen Pate of Tulsa, OK; one Nephew and six grand Nephews; five great grand Nephews; four Nieces and nine grand Nieces and many, many extended family members... hundreds of personal friends and an untold number of those he touched. Good-bye and God's speed from all of us.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church in Collinsville, Oklahoma. Burial will follow in the family plot at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Collinsville, Oklahoma. Memorials in Mr. Evans' name may be made to Alzheimer Disease Research (at Duke University), 2200 West Main, A-230, Durham, North Carolina 27705.

   written by his son Theodore Michael Evans for his Family and Friends

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