Dale Junior Evans (101) of Shelbyville

Dale Junior Evans, 101, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 7:30 a.m. Friday, January 26, 2024 at Green Tree at Mt Vernon, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 2, 2024 at Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL, with Rev. Greg Breeden officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to First Church of the Nazarene or Saving Orphaned Animals, both in Shelbyville.

Junior was born on December 25, 1922 in Lakewood, IL, the son of Henry Jerome and Lala R. (Hawyer) Evans. Junior attended Lakewood High School for three years and graduated from Shelbyville High School in the Class of 1940. He married Mabel I. Holley on March 13, 1943 and they were blessed with 72 years of marriage and three children, Richard, Stephen and Rebecca. Junior worked as a draftsman for the Oliver Corporation in Shelbyville until the plant closed in 1970. Junior then began working at Howe & Yockey Funeral Home in 1971, where he found his calling. He enjoyed serving the people of Shelbyville, Strasburg, and surrounding areas, and opened the door with a smile for nearly 50 years. Junior was a perfectionist in everything he did and is noted for being able to fix anything. Work was his hobby, and he could often be heard whistling while he worked. In addition to maintaining the funeral home, he enjoyed trimming shrubs for Harry Boedecker and mowing for Leach-Wilson. Family and friends loved his peanut clusters and visiting with Junior when he delivered them. Junior was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Shelbyville, IL where he is remembered for bringing generations of kids to church in his station wagon.

Junior is survived by his sons, Richard Evans (Teresa) of Terra Haute, IN and Stephen Evans (Pennie) of Mt. Vernon, IL; daughter, Rebecca Huber (Paul Brooks) of Shelbyville, IL; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Moloney, Michael Evans, Jimmy Hedderich, Hank Evans, Danny Evans, Amy Evans, Travis Huber, and Samantha Graham; 11 great grandchildren; and 1 great great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mabel on October 28, 2015; and sister, Betty Houston (Don).

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