Raye Juanita Laughlin Evers

On June 4, 1918, a little girl was born to Morton Jacob and Pearl Raye (Williams) Laughlin, in Waco, Texas. Her name was to be Raye Juanita Laughlin. As a small child, she moved with the family to Moody where she was a 1936 graduate of Moody High School and continued her education at North Texas State University Denton, Texas. In 1940, she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from North Texas. Later, she studied at the University of Texas in Austin and Baylor University in Waco. In the forty-three years she taught, she touched the lives of many children. She began her teaching career during the dark days of World War II in the McGregor Public School System in the elementary grades. Later, she taught home economics in high school, sponsored several classes and was a longtime sponsor of the Future Homemakers of America, making many conventions. On of the hardest trip she made was to Chicago when she had to see her son cry as she boarded the train in Fort Worth. After twenty-six years of service to the McGregor System. In 1968, she became associated with the Midway Public School System where she taught Home Economics and sponsored the Future Homemakers of America. After her son Dale, graduated from the then McMurry College in 1982, she retired from the teaching profession.

As long as her health permitted, Mrs. Evers was an active member of Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma: an International Teachers Society. In 1986, she began serving as president until 1988. In earlier years, she served on various committees to include ceremonial, necrology and social to name a few. Dr. Annie Webb Blanton said “Our Presidents are never past. The results of their work go on and on in the future.

Since her February 21, 1939, marriage to Parke Davis Evers in Marietta, Love County, Oklahoma, she and Parke D. have been active members of First United Methodist Church of McGregor. Both have taught several terms as teachers in the former Friendship Class of which they were long time members. In more recent years, the class merged with the Home Builders Class to become the Friendship Builders Class. In the early 1940’s, Raye organized the Methodist Youth Fellowship, UMYF, and taught in the Children’s and Youth Department for many years. In 1942, Raye was instrumental in the organization of the Wesleyn Service Guild as a branch of the Women’s Society of Christian Service. Later the name was changed to the United Methodist Women where she continued to serve in many compasities including Vice President and a four year term as President. During her time in the UMW, she was responsible for the organization of many style shows. In 1989, she served several years on the Conference Level as Secretary of Financial Interpretation. In earlier years she organized several Harvest Festivals, many Vacation Bible Schools, served on the Administrative Board, Pastor Parrish Relations Committee, was a Trustee and a long time Worship Committee Chairman.

Following her marriage in 1939, she moved to McGregor with Park D. where he, along with his father the Late Max Henry Evers, owned and operated Evers Corner Drug. On August 15, 1972, they moved to Waco, however; they still kept their business and church relationships in McGregor.

With a desire to help make McGregor a beautiful town, in 1952, she along with the late Alma Keltner and Warren Fagg organized the McGregor Garden Club where she was the first president. She participated in many meetings on the district and state level, entered many flower shows with arrangements and plants where she received many blue ribbons. In October of 2012, the club honored her as a sixty-five year charter member. From 1996 to 2000, she served on the Woodway Beautiful Commission in Woodway.

Mrs. Evers never did fully retire from doing things. Following her 1982 professional retirement, she taught sewing classes and sold LIGHTER Fabrics out of her home for several years. She was later an interior designer for Edwards Carriage House, an Ethan Allan Gallery in Woodway for many years and was later a sales lady for Olga’s in Waco. Several years after the June 18, 1997, death of Park D., she began her employment with Cole Funeral Home in 1999 as a receptionist and assistant until her death. While there, she took great pride in ironing the flags for veterans to drape their caskets.

Survivors include a son, Dale Evers of McGregor, a granddog, Dixie Belle Evers of McGregor and her faithful and devoted caretaker, Naomi Holder of Waco.

Funeral services were at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at First United Methodist Church, 500 South Madison St., McGregor with Reverend Joe Chamness and Reverend Lianne Turner officiating. Interment follow in McGregor Cemetery, under the direction of Cole Funeral Home, 1113 West Fifth Street, McGregor. A visitation was held from 6 to 8 P.M. Monday at Cole Funeral Home.

Beautiful music was provided by Mary Kirk, Joyce Vahrenkamp, Dr. Mark Wilcox, Kyle Paschall, Tom Kirk, Walter and Jeanne Klockers.

Casketbearers were Dean Allison, Jeff Gregoire, David Hrodmaka, Pat Richardson, Richard Skipper and Lewis Westbrook.

For those desiring, memorial contributions can be directed to First United Methodist Church, 500 S. Madison, Street, McGregor, Texas 76657 or Ko Sari Fraternity Scholarship Fund, 1McMurry University, Box 938, Abilene, Texas 79697.