Maude Melissa Evans

Maude Melissa Smith Evans age 76 went home to be with the Lord February 6, 2011 while she was on a cross-country trip with her beloved husband of 54 years, Dr. Ralph Evans. She was much loved by her family and a multitude of friends. She was a native of O’Brien, Fla., and a resident of Harrogate, Tenn. and Hernando Beach, Fla. She was a member of First Baptist Church of New Tazewell, TN. She was the second of five children born to Green Berry and Nina Weaver Smith. She graduated from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Jacksonville and worked in Lake City, Fla. as a nurse. She married Ralph Evans in 1956 and moved to Tazewell, Tenn. and later to Jefferson City and Kingsport. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Carson-Newman College and a Master’s degree in nursing from UT-Knoxville in 1982. She taught nursing at East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She was a member of the UT Faculty Women’s Club and the Christian Women’s Club. She was an avid supporter of many Christian ministries, including the Billy Graham Association and Wycliffe Bible Translators. She taught English as a Second Language in Russia for a summer. She and Ralph served for a year under the Network of International Christian Schools at Amazon Valley academy, in Beling, Brazil.

She is survived by her husband: Ralph

Son: Mitchell (Carolyn) Evans of Knoxville

Daughter: Alisa Evans Begley of Bradenton, Fla.

Sister: Helen (Curtis) Humphries of O’Brien, Fla.

Brothers: Jim (Dot) Smith of Maitland, Fla.

Clyde (Kathy) Smith of O’Brien of Fla.

Grandsons: Anthony Begley and Adam Begley of Bradenton, Fla.

Mitchell Evans, Jr. of Lexington, S.C.

Brady Evans of Knoxville

Granddaughters: Lauren Evans Cliburn, Suzanne Evans Farmer and Stephanie Evans of Knoxville

Great Grandchildren: Timothy Begley of Bradenton, Fla and Connor Cliburn of Knoxville.

The family will receive friends from 3 until 4 P.M. Saturday February 12, 2011 at the Coffey Funeral Home in Tazewell with funeral service to follow at 4 P.M. Saturday in the Coffey Funeral Home Chapel Burial at 2:00 P.M. Sunday in the East Lawn Cemetery in Kingsport.

Minister: Rev. Ward Slager

Singer: Todd Spangler

Pallbearers: Anthony Begley, Adam Begley, Mitchell Evans, Jr, Brady Evans, Johnny Cliburn, Chad Farmer.

Coffey Funeral Home in charge.