Joyce Howell Evans

She ended her earthly life August 1, 2021, to celebrate her next adventure in Heaven with Jesus, with her parents & family who have gone before her to prepare a place for her there.

She led an amazing life over her 88 years. Raised mainly in Midland, Tx. as the eldest of 5 children, by her well-educated parents, (her Dad a C.P.A, and her mom, a concert violinist and music teacher), Her family helped her gain confidence in all areas of life. She was a gifted student, an avid reader, artist, and enjoyed playing the cello. She and her friends loved writing for her high school newspaper, and City of Midland newspaper columns for the youth. She was a born leader, who loved organizing most events, dances, and preparing music for events as well. She attended TWU in Denton, and UT Austin. She first married Joe Stewart, a USAF Lt. & Ins. agent, whom she had three children with , Phyllis, Patty, & Pam. She took time out of her life to raise her family, then she attended TWU to earn her Master’s in Education. She became a speech therapist in Mesquite ISD. Later she relocated to Midland, Tx. starting a new life, as a single parent, teaching deaf children in the Midland ISD. She then transferred to Austin, on a fellowship from the University of Texas, where she earned her Ph.D. She remarried after 4 years in Austin to Joe Evans, a WW2 Veteran, and Architect. She was married to him for 47 years. In Austin, she worked for Southwest Educational Development Labs and developed programs to train teachers in Special Education programs. She authored several publications and children’s storybooks that were published and used in school districts, including manuals for teaching handicapped/disabled students. She enjoyed real estate investments and working as a real estate broker, before returning to her true love of helping children & teachers. Finally working for the Texas Early Childhood Intervention program (ECI) to offer services to families with disabled special needs children from birth through age 5. Throughout her life she had a thirst for traveling around the world to appreciate other cultures. She and her husband Joe were able to enjoy frequent trips together, because he retired more than 20 years before her and she had a flexible schedule ( plus they were grateful they had two daughters that worked for airlines with family benefits). They visited most of the U.S., Europe, and South America. She and Joe were surrounded by children, their grandchildren, great grandchildren, neighbors, and friends. They loved attending craft classes together – even traveling to Tennessee several times for intensive training seminars on painting, woodworking, sculpture and glassworks. Joyce’s family remains thankful to each person that cared for her, neighbors, Senior Sitters, and the Heritage Assisted living center workers, who lovingly helped. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Evans; and her child Phyllis Stewart Brickley (and her grandchild Michael Brickley); and is survived by her children, Patricia (Patty) Stewart Kelly & her husband Neal, and their children Amanda Kelly Webster (spouse Brent, children Trinity, Charity, Hope, & Caleb), Ally Kelly Davidson (spouse Jeff, children Revel, Sage, & Valor), Brandon Brickley (child of Phyllis Brickley, who joined the Kelly family, spouse Allison, children Michael & Joy); Daniel Kelly (spouse Shelby, children Cora & Ember), Joseph Kelly (spouse Caitlin), Pam Bates (children Alexandra, Georgia and Samantha Bates); Christi Janette Evans, and Mark Evans (partner, Anne Kelley, children Dylan Evans ), siblings, Lynette Alexander Crosby & her children, (Andrea, Robert & Scott), Kissiah & George Carlson & their children (Jonathan & Adelle), John Howell (spouse Maureen, children Ben & Caitlin), Peter Howell (spouse Pam Howell, children Sarah and Michael & their families).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either CG Victory Kids camp scholarship fund or St. Matthews Church, or a charity of your choice.

A celebration of her life will be held this Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 2:00 P.M at St. Matthews Church on Mesa Drive, in Austin, Texas, with a reception immediately following at CG Arena, 9185 Research Blvd., Austin, Tx. 78758.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared for the Evans family at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com.