Ellen Evans

Mrs. Ellen Christine (Prine) Evans, age 87 of Wilmer, Alabama passed away on August 11, 2021. She is predeceased by her father and mother; Albert and Evelyn Prine, and loving husband of 64 years Perry Evans. She is survived by her son, Kerry (Debbie) Evans; Daughters, Dawna Strickland and Lorrie (Jim) Dovin; grandchildren, Brandon (Tracie) Strickland, Benjamin (Karen) Evans, Savana (Johnathan) Childress and Michael (Lauren) Dovin; great grandchildren, Alex, Ella, and Elijah Strickland; Connor Childress, and numerous family and friends.

She was born on September 5, 1933 in Eight Mile and graduated from the first graduating class of Vigor High School in 1952. Ellen met the love of her life, Perry, while attending Methodist Youth Fellowship at the Escatawpa River. On June 17, 1952, Ellen and Perry Evans were married. Ellen was a talented seamstress; she and her mother Evelyn designed and made her wedding dress which would be later worn by her daughter, Lorrie, 30 years later. Mrs. Evans would continue her sewing talent in years to come by designing and making many of the children’s clothes. In 1958, Ellen and Perry established Evans General Store. In 1976, Evans Hardware was established and continues to serve the community today.

In life, one of Mrs. Evans favorite things she enjoyed were the family gatherings eating dinner at the lake house after attending church, where she had prepared the meals early that morning. The family attendance numbers varied, but the custom-made oversize table from the property lumber was always roomy enough to accommodate them all. On those special occasions of Christmas and Thanksgiving, the extra tables, chairs, and fine dining china were brought out to welcome her extended family and friends. We will miss those special meals she prepared and how she always went out of her way to recognize a special meal for each of her children and grandchildren’s birthdays; ranging from the world’s best banana pudding – to her son Kerry’s favorite - beef liver, seems like there was always liver leftovers, which made Kerry happy. Other family members favorites included her homemade mashed potatoes, Ambrosia, German Chocolate Cake and Pound Cake.

At the family gatherings, her children would often share their fond memories of growing up with a loving and no-nonsense mom. As a mother, Mrs. Evans instilled some good old fashion values, and her children continue to reflect on those memories and thank her today – they became better people for it. But some of her children needed a little more instilling by the wrath of the rod than others. Her daughter, Lorrie, fondly recalls the times her mother directed her to go get a limb from the bush by the back porch (affectionately called the switch tree) to correct her sometimes mischievous behavior. Lorrie quickly learned that the smaller limb was not the better choice.

Mrs. Evans loved running and working in the family hardware store - that was her community. Her children and grandchildren spent lots of time at the hardware store; for a period of time - home was above the family store. She established many life-long personal relationships. She knew her customers by name and provided good old-fashioned customer service to those that came into the store. She would often assist the most seasoned handyman to resolve their plumbing dilemma, and where else can you run a personal tab that was kept on a slip of paper, in the file box, on the countertop.

Mrs. Ellen Evans was a lifelong member of the Wilmer United Methodist Church. The Lord has called her home. Rest easy Ellen, Mom, Maw, Mrs. Evans, Friend, Servant-in-Christ; you will be missed but never forgotten, we love you. The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM until 2:30 PM on Sunday, August 15, at Wilmer Cemetery, followed by a graveside service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Wilmer Cemetery Fund, in care of WUMC, POB 156, Wilmer, AL. Arrangements under the direction of Radney Funeral Home-Mobile, Mobile, AL.