Thomas Wylie Evans

Mr. Thomas Wylie Evans, age 85, died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at his home surrounded by his wife, children, and dear family members. Visitation will be held at Pafford Funeral Home in Lexington, Tennessee, on Friday, March 23, from 4:00PM-8:00PM. Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM, Saturday, March 24, at Independence Church of Christ. Burial will follow at the Independence Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at the church 2 hours prior to the funeral service. Mr. Evans was born August 12, 1921 in Decatur County, Tennessee to the late Frank and Estella Evans. He was the 9th child of 12 children born in the family. When Wylie was 6 years old, his mother died and when he was 9 years old, his father died. He became the foster son of Jim and Verlie Cox, who were devoted parents to him. Wylie obeyed the Gospel and was baptized into Christ at an early age. He graduated from Lexington High School and Jackson Technical School. During the war years he served as a welder, working in shipyards and ammunitions plants. On January 9, 1946, he married Nedra Ellis of Clarksville, TN. They made their home in Lexington, where he owned and operated the Lexington Welding and Machine Shop. In 1963, they moved to the Poplar Springs community, where he fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a full-time farmer. Wylie and his family were faithful members of the Broad Street Church of Christ and later the Independence Church of Christ. Wylie served as a bible teacher, song leader, and elder in the church. Wylie was the last surviving child of his family, being preceded in death by his 11 brothers and sisters. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Mrs. Nedra Evans; a son, Arthur David "Ox" Evans and wife, Shelia of Luray, Tennessee; 2 daughters, Joan Gateley and husband, Bill of Lexington, Tennessee and Connie Powell and husband, Randy of Louisburg, Kansas; 7 grandchildren, David Lane Evans and wife, Christy, Kyle Thomas Evans, Ryan Wade Gateley, Melanie Gateley Bush and husband, Joey, Anthony Quinn Powell, Jacob William Powell, and Jordan Wylie Powell. Pallbearers to serve are Wylie's 6 grandsons. Honorary pallbearers are Don Britt, Eddie Dunavant, and Harold Tyler, past and current elders of the Independence Church of Christ. The family suggests memorial donations be made to Georgia Agape Foster Care and Adoption Agency; 3094 Mercer University Dr., Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341 or Hospice of West Tennessee; 1804 Hwy. 45 Bypass, Jackson, Tennessee, 38305.

Thomas Wylie Evans

August 12, 1921 - March 22, 2007