Hugh Evans Sr. (1925 - 2012)
Melbourne

Hugh Macaulay Evans, Sr, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, entered into his eternal rest on November 28, 2012, at the age of 87 after he collapsed at his office in Melbourne, FL.

Mr. Evans was born on September 8, 1925, in Waynesboro, Georgia, to Arthur and Elizabeth Evans. He was named after his mother's elder brother. His mother taught him at home before sending him to school in the second grade, where he began his academic career as a straight-A student. He was always thankful for growing up in Waynesboro with his best friend, his older brother, Arthur. Mr. Evans was raised in the Methodist church, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, played high school football, and was elected class president every year from seventh grade through his senior year of high school.

After graduating from high school at 1942 at age 17, Mr. Evans attended Emory University for two quarters before joining the U.S. Army Air Corp. He served in the Pacific during WWII as a cryptographer and air traffic controller. After the war, Mr. Evans graduated from Emory with a degree in Business Administration and Psychology and began his business career as a furniture salesman in Ft. Pierce, Florida. In 1950, he married Marilyn Bailey of Jacksonville, Florida. The couple soon moved to Palatka, Florida, and then to Fernandina Beach, Florida, where Mr. Evans managed a furniture store. Hugh and Marilyn were blessed with four children: sons, Hugh Macaulay, Jr. and Daniel Allen; and daughters, Cecile Bailey and Mary Louise.

Mr. Evans moved to Melbourne in 1963, to operate two Western Auto stores, one in Titusville and the other in Eau Gallie. He and his family were active in St. Paul's United Methodist Church and the Republican party. Mr. Evans was elected to the Brevard County Commission in 1968 and worked to purchase beachfront property for public access, including Paradise Beach Park, and develop water and sewer services for the beachside communities.

Mr. Evans co-founded Evans-Butler Realty in 1974 and worked in the commercial real estate business for the rest of his life. He mentored many others in the business through the years, and it gave him great joy that his sons, Hugh and Dan joined Evans-Butler in the late 1970's, and his daughter Cecile, nephew Art, cousin Mike, neice Elizabeth, stepson Mike, and grandsons Davis and Andrew have all been part of the business he founded. At age 80, Mr. Evans said he was thankful for, "having children who understand what I need, and that is that I need to be working and not sitting on the sidelines." Until the end of his life, Mr. Evans was still going to work four days a week and passed away in his real estate office at the end of the business day.

Hugh married Audree Renfro in 1983. Hugh and Audree are members of River Run Christian Church in Melbourne. Mr. Evans was an exemplery Christian who modeled unconditional love to his wife, his children and their spouses, his grandchild-ren and their spouses, his great-grandchildren, his step-children, and to the many other people he impacted during his long and fruitful life.

Mr. Evans was known for his kindness, generosity, and love for others. He often concluded prayers with the reminder to "be every mindful of the needs of others," a prayer he truly lived out. He had a way of making everyone feel special and was always was ready with a kind word. He said, "one of my favorite things to do is hug people. Hugging is good." His favorite Bible verse was John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that all who believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life." Mr. Evans explained, "As Christians, we know there's more to life and this verse says it all. It's the glue that holds the whole thing together. We're all seeking eternal life and this is a good philosophy and a good promise, all in one package." The sadness of losing this beloved man is tempered by the certainty that he is now experiencing the joy of eternal life with Jesus.

Mr. Evans is survived by his wife, Audree Evans; his four children and their spouses, Hugh and Linda Evans, Dan and Angie Evans, Cecile and Robert Rider, Mary and Tom Raiford; his eleven grandchildren and their spouses, Davis and Erin Evans, Lindsey Evans, Andrew and Missy Evans, Ashley and Stephen Hilton, Brittany and Chelsea Evans, Bailey and Macaulay Rider, John, Tyler and Marissa Raiford; his seven great-grandchildren, Grace, Verity, Caleb, Joshua, Joy, Hope, and Hugh Evans; his four step-children and their spouses, Ric Renfro, Mike and Mary Renfro, Ron Renfro, Russ and Carolyn Renfro; his ten step-grandchildren, Robby and Eric Campbell, Bekah, Rosie, Jason, and Michele Renfro, Rick and Tenessa Renfro, Dan and Megan Renfro, Josh and Laura Barr, Mary Beth and Ryan Scharps; and his six step great-grandchildren, Reese, Riley, Ruby and John Renfro, Michael Barr, and Ayden Quesenberry. He is also survived by his first wife, Marilyn Evans-Jones; his sister-in-law, Mary Lou Evans; his neices and nephew and their spouses, Elizabeth and Bill Kennedy, Catherine and Marshall Heldreth, Art and Lorie Evans; and eight great-neices and great-nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother, Arthur Evans.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 7, 2012 at River Run Christian Church, 1660 Croton Road, Melbourne, Florida 32935. Mr. Evans will be interred in the Evans family plot near his brother, Arthur, at Fountainhead Memorial Park, Palm Bay, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Greater Things program at River Run Christian Church in memory of Hugh Evans.

Published in FLORIDA TODAY from December 2 to December 4, 2012