Col. Ivor Parry Evans, Usaf, (Ret.)

Col. Ivor Parry Evans, USAF, (Ret.) 86, of Abilene, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday October 24th, 2009. A service is scheduled for 2:00 pm Saturday October 31st, 2009 at Piersall Benton Chapel, 733 Butternut St with full military honors to follow at Elmwood Memorial Park. A visitation will be held Friday from 6-8 pm at the funeral home. The service will be conducted by Reverend Tommy Walden and assisted by Dr. Daiqing Yuan. Dr. Bill Pierce, Dr. Terry Bawcom, Phil Phelps, Gerry Armstrong, Ray Gooch, Larry Wood, Marshall Helm, and Wynant Wilson will serve as pallbearers and the members of Gideons International will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.

Ivor Parry Evans was born on February 20th, 1923 to Samuel J. Evans and Bess Parry Evans in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Parry was raised in Aliquippa. He graduated from the University of Nebraska majoring in Political Science in 1967. At the age of 18 he joined the Army Air Corp. Col. Evans served in WWII where he flew 59 combat missions and was highly decorated for his achievements. He was a B-25 bombardier in North Africa, Italy, Corsica, Greece and Yugoslavia. After returning from combat he met and later married Muriel "Midge" McHargue in Midland, Texas on January 9th, 1946. Together they continued Parry's career in the military until his retirement after 30 years in 1972. Parry was a bombardier and radar navigator on B-36 and B-52 crews and served as Assistant Director of Operations for the 821st Air Division during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was Base Commander of Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, New Mexico; Personnel Director of Offutt Air Force Base at the Headquarters of the Strategic Air Command in Omaha, Nebraska; Personnel Director of the 3rd Air Division at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam and Professor of Aerospace Studies and Director of ROTC at South Dakota State University. During his distinguished military career, he was decorated with numerous medals. These include the Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 bronze stars, the Distinguished Unit Badge, the Presidential Unit Citation, and Oak Leaf Clusters.

During their time with the Air Force, Parry and Midge had two children Rick and Jan. In 1972 Parry and Midge moved to Abilene and Parry began a second career as a Sales Representative for Smi-Carr Inc. Together they traveled the country selling products for this company. Parry was a member and Elder of the Abilene Bible Church. He was an active member of the Gideons International serving as past President of the Texas Gideons and as a former USA Zone 4 Trustee. Attending the weekly prayer meetings was a highlight and he had especially enjoyed his last meeting on October 23. The influence that Parry had on his family, friends and community will be felt for generations to come.

Surviving Parry are his wife of 63 years Midge Evans, two children; Rick Evans and Jan (Jim) Thomas, and grandchildren; Joy (Wagner) Williams and John (Ashley) Evans and great grandchildren; Preston and Mackenzie Williams, a brother; William P. Evans, a sister; Mae Trembath, and sister-in-law; Mrs. Gomer Evans. Parry will also be fondly remembered by his other family members Donna Lou (Don) Veri, Cathy (Bill) Bucey, Terry (Marie) Trembath, Bob Forney, Jack (Pat) Evans, Jim McHargue, Lucille Graham, Dick (Dolores) McHargue, Laura McHargue Lighter, Bill (Vivian) McHargue, Richard (Susan) McHargue, Gloria Graham, Tim (Becca) Huchton, Paul (Iris) Huchton, Will Huchton, Anita (Bryne) Moore, Brenda Cook, Paige, Matthew, Thomas, Katy, and Michael McHargue as well as a host of friends. Preceding Parry in death are his parents, brothers; Stan and his wife Jeanette Evans, Jack Evans, and Gomer Evans, Sister; Betty Forney and her husband Buzz, brother-in-law; Jack Trembath, and sister-in-law; Mrs. William P. Evans.

Memorials may be made in honor of Parry Evans to Gideons International, PO Box 2882, Abilene, 79604 or to the Abilene Bible Church 3125 Oldham Lane, Abilene, 79602. Condolences can be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.