Essie Mae Evans
5/26/1921 - 3/14/2018

Essie Mae Evans, affectionately known as "Bobo" by her grandchildren and great grand children, passed away peacefully at home March 14, 2018 at the age of 96. She was born on May 26, 1921 to (Hulda) Era Lee Habenicht and Charles Schwethelm in San Antonio, Texas. Her father died when she was only six months old and her mother needed to find work so she could support her and her three year old sister, Verde. Her mother moved them to the German-speaking town of Fredericksburg where relatives could help take care of them while her mother stayed in San Antonio to find work and get established as a single mother. Her fondest memories were from those times, living with her relatives on a farm in Fredericksburg. When she started to school she could not speak English only German. She and her sister eventually returned to San Antonio to be with their mother and continue their education. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1942, and went on to the John Sealy School of Nursing in Galveston to become a Registered Nurse. Shortly after graduating she, like many of the nurses, went to Freeport to help open up the hospital at Dow Chemical which at that time was a defense plant, Dow Magnesium, a plant producing metal for use in the building of air planes requested by England. She, like many others, lived in government-issued trailers behind the hospital. In Freeport is where she met her future husband, Chives Woodruff Evans. Chives was a recent graduate of University of Alabama and one of the many Chemical Engineers Dow was hiring at that time. They were married on January 30, 1945, a very short time before he was called to serve in World War II and go overseas. Essie lived with family and friends during that time in various towns in Texas. At the end of the war they returned to Freeport and their only daughter, Teresa Ann, was born. Essie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She developed many long-term friendships, enjoying her many friends in both Freeport and Lake Jackson she and Chives played bridge, attended dances, had neighborhood get-togethers, and she worked for Dr. James A. Stewart. In the last 40 years she lived in Lake Jackson. She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Chives Evans, by her parents and by her sister, Verde Martin and by her son-in-law, George Coyner. She is also preceded in death by a very dear friend of hers of 75 years, Marge Stewart, their friendship dating back to their school of nursing days. She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Ann Coyner of Austin and by her granddaughters, Casey Danell Harrison of Austin and Krista Lynn Dawdy of Sunnyvale, Texas and their husbands, Jason Harrison and Michael Dawdy. She is also very proud of her four great grandchildren, Jacob Coyner Harrison and Tyler Evan Harrison of Austin and Ainsley Reece Dawdy and Austin Ryan Dawdy of Sunnyvale. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and their spouses whom she all loved dearly as well as by Lois Wolf, a devoted and caring friend of hers for over 30 years. Also, Teresa would like to personally thank Natalie Edwards, her long time caregiver who also took care of Mr. Evans as well as Shonda Thomas. Also a special appreciation goes to Dr. A. Amin's devotion to her care as well as Caring Senior Services Inc., Chi St. Luke's Health Brazosport Home Health Services and Dignity Hospice who provided wonderful care for her. Essie has requested a small intimate private graveside service. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to any of the following: First Baptist Church of Freeport, Military Moms & Wives, 313 West Mulbery Street Angleton, Texas 77515; USO, Cal Farley Home, 10497 Town and Country Way Houston, Texas 77024; or a charity of your choice.

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