Merrill L. Evans

Merrill L. Evans, 75, of Gallipolis, passed away on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at Riverside Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. He was born on August 22, 1932 in Gallipolis to the late Emerson E. and Evelyn Tope Evans. He was married to Charla Cox Evans and she survives him. Merrill was currently owner and operator of Evans Cattle Company and the President of Evans Enterprises. He started his career as the clerk at the Gallipolis Stockyards Saturday Sale. He joined Evans Packing Company in 1955 and in 1957, along with good friend, George Carter started Carter and Evans Construction Company. He was on the Holzer Hospital Foundation Board for 18 years and the Ohio Valley Bank Board of Directors for 23 years. He was currently Director Emeritus at the Ohio Valley Bank. Merrill was also a member of First Baptist Church, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Ohio and Kansas Cattlemen’s Association, Gallia County Cattlemen’s Association, Gallia County Farm Bureau and the Gallia County Agricultural Center. In 1999, he was awarded the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Award of Excellence. Merrill was instrumental in the founding of numerous businesses in Gallia County. He was also actively involved in civic organizations, especially the ones connected to the land. He was a steward of God’s earth. Surviving are his wife, Charla Evans of Gallipolis; a daughter, Jodie John Davis of St. Clairsville, Ohio; two sons, Alan Ida Evans of Gallipolis and Matt Anita Evans of Bloomingdale, Ohio; six grandchildren, Clinton Davis, Seth Davis, Emily Evans, ChristopherJessicaEvans, Kelli Evans, and Morgan Evans; three step grandchildren, Nicole Jamey Montgomery, Mekenzie and Carly France; one step great grandchild, Morgan Montgomery; a daughter-in-law, Terri Moore of Point Pleasant, West Virginia; two brothers, Dan E. Temmie Evans of Canal Winchester, Ohio and Larry E. Patti Evans of Lake Wales, Florida; and several nieces and nephews. Merrill was preceded in death by his parents, Emerson E. and Evelyn Evans in 1990 and a son, Jay K. Evans in 2000. Services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 8, 2007 at First Baptist Church in Gallipolis with Pastor Archie Conn and Pastor Matt Townsend officiating. Burial will follow in Mound Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Friday, September 7, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. Pallbearers will be Clinton Davis, Seth Davis, Christopher Evans, Vernon Jones, Michael Stephens and Richard Stephens. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Merrill’s memory to the Gallia County Junior Fairground Relocation Fund, c/o Kathryn Massie, P.O. Box 931, Gallipolis, OH 45631. Willis Funeral Home Gallipolis OH US Cemetery: 2007-09-08 Mound Hill Cemetery Gallipolis OH US Visitation: 2007-09-07 17:00:00-20:00:00 First Baptist Church Gallipolis OH US Service: 2007-09-08 11:00:00 First Baptist Church Gallipolis OH US