Ross Sterling Evans

Ross Sterling Evans, one of El Paso’s most accomplished custom homebuilders who was revered for his enduring generosity, died Feb. 24 on vacation in New Orleans. His health had declined near the end of a Caribbean cruise with 20 family members, made to celebrate his life. He was to turn 99 years old on April 9.

Up until his retirement in 1986, Mr. Evans built notable homes all over the area, including those of prominent El Pasoans William Farah, Jim Neessen, Herbert Schwartz, Duane Baker and Malcolm McGregor. Over the years he worked closely with architects Robert Garland and Dave Hilles, building their personal homes, and Frank Waterhouse.

Born in the small town of Lehi, Utah, he worked for everything he ever had. He thinned sugar beets while still in grade school. During the Depression as a teenager he hopped freight trains seeking work in Idaho and Montana and was nearly killed jumping from one train. He had another close call at the bottom of an Idaho silver mine, when a gas leak almost killed him. He also survived several mine collapses.

A natural athlete, in high school he lettered in track, basketball and football, making the varsity football team as a freshman. By his sophomore year he was the outstanding basketball player on his team, and his passion for this sport, especially for the UTEP miners, never waned.

After high school, he started Utah State Agricultural College, now University, in Logan, but chose to serve a volunteer mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He arrived in Europe at the beginning of 1938, serving in Nazi Germany first near Czechoslovakia and then near Poland, what would become East Germany.

Mr. Evans saw Hitler speak and witnessed Kristallnaught, Nov. 9, 1938, as Jewish businesses were ransacked and many Jews arrested. He sometimes rode his bicycle through a forest with a facility that would become a concentration camp. When the church pulled its missionaries out of Germany just before the invasion of Poland, he was among the last to catch a train. His bicycle, on the next train, never made it out.

Upon finishing his mission, Mr. Evans began classes at Brigham Young University, studying to become an architect. However, two months before Pearl Harbor, he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Corps. He trained as a bombardier in New Mexico and in El Paso, on B-17s and B-24s. Having graduated head of his class in training, Mr. Evans became an instructor himself.

Stationed at Biggs Army Airfield in 1943, 1st Lt. Evans met Betty Lewis, a student at the Texas College of Mines. Totally smitten, he proposed two weeks later. They were married Jan. 23, 1944. As he was expecting orders for the Pacific Theater, Japan surrendered in August, 1945.

Soon after the war, housing was scarce, so Mr. Evans began building a house for his family. People requested houses for themselves, and his business grew. As time passed, he survived several building recessions. On a couple of occasions people saved him by loaning or advancing him money. In turn, he helped many others over the years, often forgiving loans to them.

Besides running his company, Mr. Evans was active in the El Paso LDS First and Fifth Wards. He served as Sunday school superintendent and as a counselor in the church’s lay bishopric. He was also a member of the El Paso Country Club Optimists Club.

His wife Betty died in 2004 and youngest daughter Carol in 1981. His four brothers and sisters—Verland Smith; Neldon (Dick) and Keith Evans; and Karma Whimpy—preceded him in death, Keith and Karma just last year. Mr. Evans has four surviving children: Rita Hoffman (wife of the late Paul Hoffman), of El Paso; Elaine Ladner (wife of the late Vernon Ladner), of Waveland, Miss.; Ross, Jr., of Austin; and Marilyn Taylor (wife of John Taylor), of Granbury, Texas. He leaves 17 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren, who cover the country from California to Florida.

His services will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the LDS chapel, 400 Rosemont Drive, with Interment immediately following at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery. Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, Texas 79912.