Evelyn Smith James, 93, passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2019 at Pine Haven Health Care. Evelyn was born on September 26, 1926 in Orlinda, Tennessee, the daughter of Edgar Lee and Julia Jane (Hodges) Smith. She was a graduate of Orlinda High School where she played basketball and had been team captain.
In the spring of 1949, she met Jesse Lewis James and they were married February 19, 1950. She then dedicated her life to being a mother and homemaker. In May of 1952, they moved to Evansville, Indiana.
Jesse and Evelyn were long-time members of Friendship Baptist Church. She loved sports and bowled for many, many years. She was a long-time member of Fendrich Ladies 9 Hole Golf Club.
She is survived by daughters, Deborah Ours and Shelly James (Mike Keating); grandchildren, Kala Ours-Kaiser (Travis), Zachary Ours (Terra), Shannon Ours-Klump (Jeremy), and Miranda Ours-Wahnsiedler (Darrel); great-grandchildren, Jesse Deneke; Griffin, Layton and Jensen Ours; Everley and Kinsley Klump; and Ava and Charlotte Wahnsiedler; step-grandchildren, Rachel Ferguson and Jacob Keating (Courtney); and step-great-grandchildren, Drew and Reese Ferguson and Elliott Keating.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of almost 64 years, Jesse Lewis James; her parents; and sister and brother-in-law, Mabel Lee and Wallace Smith.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at Alexander North Chapel with Pastor Steve Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Alexander Memorial Park. Friends may visit on Friday from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Friendship Baptist Church Building Fund, 1420 Keller Street, Evansville, Indiana 47710.
