Gloria Ann Evans

July 26, 1922 - December 24, 2011

Gloria Byrns Evans Gloria Byrns Evans, 89, quietly and peacefully passed from this life to a new home in heaven on Saturday, December 24, 2011. She was born on July 26, 1922 and reared in Port Arthur, graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, then attended Lamar University in 1942. Gloria is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Ethel Byrns, a son, Randall Evans and a granddaughter, Tonya Hanley. Gloria was married to Adrian (Jack) Evans for 65 years and became the mother of four children; Dr. Stephen Evans and wife Terry of Roswell, New Mexico; daughters, Barbara Hanley and husband Leonard of Nederland, Candi Haynie and husband Mike of Shreveport, Louisiana; ten grandchildren; Daniel, Douglas, David, Shelia, Crystal, Mandy, Randall, Blake, Jessie and Wesley and seven great grandchildren; Gary, Kade, Kail, Chelsea, Caley, Kaitlyn and Alana. While in high school Gloria served as drum major of the Red Hussars Drum and Bugle Corps and on a "spur of the moment" decision and with one day's notice Gloria entered the Miss Port Arthur beauty pageant sponsored by a local shoe store and received a $6.00 bathing suit as payment for representing the store. Gloria won first place on the stage of the old Strand Theatre and became Miss Port Arthur, 1940, at the age of 17. Later she represented Port Arthur in the Miss Texas pageant in Mineral Wells and became Miss Texas, 1940, the only person from Port Arthur ever to win the state title. In September 1940, Gloria went to Atlantic City, New Jersey to complete in the Miss America pageant for 1941 and entertained at Military bases, USO, Red Cross and other training bases throughout Texas. Since Miss Port Arthur and Miss Texas contests were not held in the spring of 1941 due to wartime, Gloria was invited to return to the Miss America pageant in the fall and compete in that pageant as Miss Texas 1941. This made her the only person ever to hold the title of Miss Texas two years in a row. However, Gloria became ill and was confined to the hospital during the finals of that contest. She was later invited to audition for the Radio City Rockettes in New York, but declined due to illness and her desire to return home and continue her education. Gloria was Mother of the year in 1989 and stayed busy working as a beauty consultant for Merle Norman, traveling, teaching bible school, playing bridge, and tending her extensive antique doll collection. Gloria was a member of the Church of Christ worshipping with the Proctor Street congregation in Port Arthur, and later with the Groves Church of Christ. She is now a member of the Nederland Church of Christ. Special thanks are given for the tender care given by caregivers from Texas Home Health Care and Hospice, Kim, Theresa, Shirley, Ruth, Liz, Ada, Missy and Owana. Gloria brightened the lives of many with her ever present smile and charming personality. She will forever be remembered as the pretty blonde lady who was always smiling.