Roy Dean Evans

Roy Dean Evans, 86, of Jackson, passed away Monday, April 7, 2025, at Mercy Hospital Southeast in Cape Girardeau.

He was born May 7, 1938, in Cape Girardeau, to Arthur and Dovie L. Scharf Evans.  He and Betty Jean Biri were married October 18, 1958, in Whidbey Island, Washington.  They had been married 61 years when Betty passed away February 17, 2020.

Roy attended Jackson High School and earned his degree while honorably serving in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1962.

The family lived many years in the St. Louis area where Roy worked 19 years on the Cotton Belt Railroad, 13 years for Union Pacific Railroad, and managed property in Imperial, Missouri, for his neighbor, the late Paul Harvey.  Yes, the great radio personality, Paul Harvey, as in, “And that’s the rest of the story”.

Loving survivors include; a son, Dennis (Tonya) Evans of Hillsboro, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Lisa (late Roy II) Evans of Olive Branch, Illinois; five grandchildren: Krista (John) Indelicato, Ryan Evans and Douglas Evans of St. Louis, PFC Alexander Evans of Hillsboro, Missouri; Bethany (Dajohn) Peters of Bettendorf, Iowa; six great-grandchildren, Mia and Giovanni Indelicato of St. Louis, Daegus, Drazen, Daelon, and Daenerys of Bettendorf, Iowa; nephews, Michael (Teal) Biri and children Kennady and Jake of Cape Girardeau; and Brad Biri and daughter Isabella of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his wife; a son, Roy Evans II (3/14/2023); a still born daughter (12/06/1961); his parents; an infant half-sister, Helen Evans; and Betty’s brothers, John and Mike (Dianne) Biri.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Tunnel to Towers.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above this article.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now&homepagedonate

Tunnel to Towers Foundation
2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306, Staten Island NY 10306
Tel: 1-718-987-1931
Email: donationsupport@t2t.org
Web: https://t2t.org/