Obituary of Arbra Evans

Arbra B. Evans was born in Speedwell, Tennessee on August 14, 1927. He grew up working on the family farm the youngest of fourteen children born to the late Robin and Martha (Moyers) Evans. He attended Friendship School through the third grade and then finished his formal education at Powell Valley. Arbra honorably served his country in the United States Army. A.B. married the former R. Jean Leach. He was employed for thirty-two years at Consolidated Packaging as a machine operator, and then worked nine years for the Monroe County Sheriff Department in corrections before retiring. Jean passed away in 2001, and A.B. then married Sue Prather in LaFollette, Tennessee on December 6, 2003. A.B. loved the Lord giving his life to Christ at the age of 14. He was a member of Friendship Baptist in Speedwell and had been attending Heritage Baptist in Monroe. A.B. was an ordained deacon. He was an avid outdoorsman; loved to hunt, fish, and shoot skeet. He enjoyed maintaining an immaculate garden with beautiful roses around his home and plenty of vegetables for canning and a few to sell. Later in life, A.B. was blessed with grandchildren, cherishing their time together. A.B., 86 of Monroe was called home on Sunday, October 27, 2013. In addition to his parents and his first wife his passing was preceded by thirteen siblings; one stepson: Richard Prather; and one step-granddaughter: Christina "Tina" Perna. To cherish his memory he leaves his wife: Sue of Monroe; three stepdaughters: Pam (Chet) Wilhelm of Monroe, Judy (Tim) Laidlaw of Northville, and Bonnie (Mark) Hensley of LaSalle; one stepson: Mark (Cathy) Prather of Edmonton, Canada; nine step-grandchildren: Jennifer (Brian) Pfeiffer, Sara and Bryan Laidlaw, Rachel (Allen) Block, Megan (Kyle) Katschor, and Conor, Zachary, and McKenna Prather; nine step-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends may gather from 2:00-8:00pm, Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Merkle Funeral Service, 14567 South Dixie Highway (formerly Bennett Funeral Services), and from 12:00pm until a Celebration of His Life at 1:00pm, Thursday, October 31, 2013 also at Merkle's. Reverend Duane Ware pastor of Heritage Baptist will officiate and procession will follow to Roselawn where graveside services will be under the auspices of Monroe VFW Post 1138. A.B. will be missed by his family and friends. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort, share a photo, or send a floral arrangement by visiting www.merklefs.com; Online Tributes page.