Steven Jerrell Evans

Steve was born on December 16, 1946, in San Angelo, Texas. His family soon moved to Santa Barbara, California, before making their way to Odense, Denmark when he was 12 years old. He embraced the Danish culture and formed lifelong friendships, including those with his dear friends Franz and Gitte Mazanti. He spoke five languages, and his love for Denmark stayed with him throughout his life. He especially enjoyed meeting fellow Danes and striking up conversations in fluent Danish.

After graduating from Giersings Realskole in Denmark, Steve returned to California, attended Santa Barbara City College, and joined the United States Air Force in 1966. While stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, with Detachment 2 of the 6910th Security Wing, he traveled to Denmark to visit his sister, Pam. It was there that he met Gail Carpenter, a fellow Texan. Of all places, two Texans found each other in Denmark. Their chance meeting turned into a lifetime together. Steve and Gail married on October 12, 1969, in Tyler, Texas, before settling in San Antonio, where he continued his Air Force service at Security Hill at Kelly Air Force Base.

Following his military service, Steve attended Texas A&M University, earning his Bachelor of Environmental Design in 1973 and Master of Architecture in 1975. A proud Aggie and member of the Texas A&M Singing Cadets, one of his proudest moments was performing at the White House for President Richard Nixon in 1971.

After earning his degrees, Steve began his career as an architect, first working for Texas A&M University and later a private firm while he and Gail raised their family in College Station. He eventually continued his architectural career with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), which took the family to Dallas and Germany. After their children were grown, Steve and Gail moved to Flower Mound, Texas, and later Okinawa, Japan. Following 20 years with AAFES, Steve retired, and he and Gail came full circle, returning to San Antonio, where they had begun their married life, to be closer to family. Retirement didn't last long, though, as Steve returned to work for the Air Force Services Agency for another eight years before retiring a second time.

During those years, Steve and his daughter, Alicia, worked in the same building. For five years, he patiently waited in her driveway each morning so they could drive to work together. He was her favorite chauffeur, and it was one of the many quiet ways he showed his love.

Steve believed in hard work, doing the right thing, and always being there for his family. He was an incredibly patient and devoted husband to Gail. He supported his son, Brad, throughout his

Scouting years, proudly helping him earn the rank of Eagle Scout. He also treasured time with his six grandchildren, including several memorable trips to Disney.

In retirement, Steve enjoyed time with family, volunteering with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, and walking around the neighborhood lake with his buddies. He and Gail welcomed a tiny toy poodle named Scooter, who quickly stole Steve's heart. Quiet by nature, he had a wonderfully dry sense of humor and loved sharing funny memes and pictures he found online. He rarely asked for anything, but when he treated himself to something special, like his John Deere riding lawn mower, he couldn't wait to show it off.

Steve loved his country, his Air Force, and his Aggies. You rarely saw him without a shirt or hat representing one of the two. Danish had been such a big part of his childhood that, even after all those years, he still loved saying "Jeg elsker dig" - "I love you."

Steve is survived by his beloved wife, Gail; his son, Brad Evans, and grandchildren Mikael Rich, Aleya Evans, Kaelyn Evans, and great-grandson Beau Rich; and his daughter, Alicia Ynostrosa, her husband, Bradley, and grandchildren Avery, Noelle, and Olivia Ynostrosa. He is also survived by his sister, Gail Ann Petty; his brother-in-law, Edwin “Ed” Carpenter and many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Bernice Whiteside, and his sister, Pam Hamre.

A brief military honors service will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. A celebration of Steve's life will be held at 1:30 p.m. at his daughter's home. Family and friends are welcome to attend either or both gatherings. Please contact the family for the reception address.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations in Steve's memory to Fisher House Inc. of San Antonio or the Alzheimer's Association.