and Mabel Irene Atkins Evans on Oct. 19, 1939 in Hot Springs, graduated from Hot Springs High
in 1959 and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps. He attended Garland County Community College and many training events during his long law enforcement career.
Charlie’s life was marked by four long-term loves -- his relationship with Jesus Christ, his large
family and many friends, helping people through law and security, and the outdoors around his
hometown. He was raised an active member of Park Place Baptist Church and involved in
building Trinity Church at its current location on Panama Street as well as their feeding program
and mission trips. In time he helped organize worship for Oaklawn Race Track employees and
workers on the “backside.” Finally he assisted in starting the Oaklawn Backside Chapel, where
he worshiped, and its chaplaincies for all comers.
Working in his family’s shooting gallery on upper Central Avenue when a teen, he next drove an
ambulance for Gross Mortuary before joining the Hot Springs Police Department on his 23rd
birthday. Charlie attained the rank of lieutenant and especially enjoyed narcotics investigation
and canine training. He retired in Jan., 1986 to run for Sheriff.
He simultaneously directed security at the Hot Springs Mall and at Oaklawn for several years
before becoming a racing official, Director of Security at Oaklawn from 1987 to his retirement in
2014. Charlie encouraged the modernization of surveillance, safety and through work with
Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, background checks for licensing of backside workers.
Charlie is survived by his daughters Debbie Varnell (Mark) and Shannon Evans (Tim Hughes), the
Segal children, and stepdaughters Misty Glaze, Stacy Dukes, Cary Fortenberry (Jason), and
Christen Horton (Ryan). Grandchildren celebrating Papa’s life are Connie Segal, Stephen
DeGrasse (Katrina Taylor), Chris DeGrasse, Alex DeGrasse, and Elijah Evans-Hughes. Surviving
great grandchildren are Lucas Segal (Emily), Austin DeGrasse, Bailey DeGrasse, Andrew
DeGrasse, Colby DeGrasse, Ella Segal, and Preston DeGrasse. Beloved nephews and nieces,
special friend NiAnn Thompson and many local and far-flung friends mourn his passing.
Pre-deceasing him were his half sisters Alene Evans and Jackie Evans Collins, wife Sandy Dukes
Evans, and step-son Stephan Dukes.
Charlie loved to tell stories about running around Park Avenue and over nearby mountains with
his buddies. He knew every street in town as well as every trail, waterfall, swimming hole, fossil
field for miles around and shared his love of nature and lots of adventures with family and
friends. An avid reader, Charlie’s lifelong interest in learning, his love of animals, his quick sense
of humor and his pride in Hot Springs were his well known traits.
Memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27, at Trinity Church with assistant
pastor Bobby Thornton and Chaplain Rich Heffington of Backside Chapel officiating. Memorials
may be made to Backside Chapel, P.O. Box 20564, Hot Springs, AR. 71913 or Trinity Church, 670
Panama Street, Hot Springs, AR 71901.
Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Robert Muldoon, Dr. Charles Wright, Arkansas Hospice, and Hot Springs High School Class of 1959.
