Robert Thomas Evans

Robert Thomas (Tom) Evans, 90, passed away Friday, May 20, 2011. Memorial service will be Tuesday, May 24, from 2–4 p.m. at John Knox Village Chapel on Murray Rd. in Lee's Summit. Cremation will be later. Tom was born July 12, 1920, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Tom Vince & Willie Maie Evans. He graduated from Paschal High School in January, 1937, winning a merit scholarship to Texas Christian University. He received his degree in Chemistry from TCU in 1941 & following a brief stint as a Fellow at Rice University, accepted employment at the Shell Oil Refinery Laboratories near Houston. While employed at Shell he also served as a member of the Texas State Guard. His career was devoted to chemistry, primarily in laboratory supervision or management. His principal employers after Shell were American Cyanamid Co.'s Warner's Works near New York City and Bayer's Agricultural Chemical Division in Kansas City, MO. In 1986 he retired from Bayer as Manager of the Analytical Research Laboratories. Since 1999 his residence has been at John Knox Village in Lee's Summit, MO, with his wife Carol, the former Miss Carol Eve Verret. She is also a chemist and was Manager of Quality Control at Bayer until her retirement in 2001. She and Tom were married in 1980. Tom was a sixth generation Texan. His great-great-great-grandfather, Sam Erwin, was a pioneer and surveyor who platted and co-founded the town of Honey Grove in what was then the Republic of Texas. Tom was predeceased by his parents; a brother, William Carl Evans; & a sister, Ruth Helm. In addition to Carol, his survivors, all living in Texas, include his son Griff & wife Charlotte of Brownwood, three grandchildren, 2 great- grandchildren, & nephew Denis Helm & wife Carol of Plano. Tom was an Episcopalian; a member of the Sons of the American Revolution; a past Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists; & a long-time member of the American Chemical Society. He enjoyed travel, photography, archeology, genealogy & the study of other sciences & history. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the 'Lost Dog Registry' or the charity of your choice. Condolences to www.mcgilleysheil.com. Arr: McGilley & Sheil Funeral Home, 11924 E. 47th St., Kansas City, MO 64133, 816-353-6555. Published in the Kansas City Star on May 22, 2011.