Mary Ray Evans

Mary Ray Evans was born in Peking, North China in 1933. Her father, Dr. John Dickson, served in China as a medical doctor, was instrumental in stopping a deadly wave of the pneumonic plague and in setting up a hospital in Showchow, Anhwei Province, China. Her mother, Rachel Newton Dickson, who grew up in Weihsien, Chantung Province, China, decided to stay in China with Mary Ray after Dr Dickson died and taught at a school in Weihsien, until all missionaries were ordered out by the U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull in 1941 because of the Sino-Japanese War. As they were traveling on a train toward their debarkation point, Rachel Dickson told of how frightened she was when a group of Japanese soldiers tried to make friends with Mary Ray, who seemed to have them charmed.

Back in the U.S. Mary Ray grew up in Richmond, Virginia, where she met and married her husband, Dr. Marshall Evans. Dr. Evans was in the Navy, so their honeymoon was spent aboard a ship destined for Hawaii, where their first son, Marshall Levering Evans was born in the midst of a typhoon. After the service, Dr. Evans specialized in nuclear medicine in Pittsburgh, Pa. From there they moved to Cape Canaveral, where Dr. Evans worked with the space program. However, deciding family practice was more in line with his interests, they moved with their three boys to Tampa and finally put down their roots in Stuart.

Mary Ray and Marshall immediately became involved in the life and activities of Stuart. Mary Ray joined the local PEO and served a term as Vice President and as the chaplain on numerous occasions, was a facilitator with Bible Study Fellowship and, with Marshall participated in the activities of First United Methodist Church, joined the local tennis clubs, and helped to form the Stuart’s Buoys and Bars Boat Club.

Mary Ray is survived by her much loved husband Dr. Marshall Evans, sons: Marshall Levering Evans, his wife Jeanne Evans; David Cary Evans; and Richard Dickson Evans; her grandchildren: Jessica Renae Evans, Alli Evans, and Jamie LeCroy; and sisters-in-law: Elizabeth W. Evans and Mary L. Evans; and niece: Linda Early. There will be a service at 3:00 PM at First United Methodist Church on Friday, September 12, 2014 in Stuart. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts can be sent to First United Methodist Church of Stuart: 1500 South Kanner Highway, Stuart, FL 34994.

All arrangements are entrusted to Aycock Funeral Home in Stuart.