Gertrude Evans

Gertrude Parsons Clark Evans (Trudie) died on July 23, 2009. She was the last of her generation. Her husband, James Winfred Evans, her parents, Dr. DeWitt Duncan Clark and Gertrude Elizabeth Parsons Clark, and all of her siblings, Sarah Alice Clark Gault, DeWitt Duncan Clark, Jr. and Anne Crumpler Clark, Thomas Conner Clark and Robert Currie Clark, and a host of cousins, preceded her in death. She loved them all. Her two daughters and their families, the older, Lisbeth Clark Evans and husband James Tate Lambie and his three daughters, Laura and Jon Levinson Benjamin and Sarah of Hickory, NC, Emily and Thomas Matousek and Daniel of Prague, Czech Republic, Jennifer and Stephen Ridgeway of London, England, survive her. Younger daughter, Sarah Alice Evans Heustess and William Troy Heustess, and their three children, Khristian Heustess Soutter and Wayne Soutter of Fort Collins, CO., Cameron Evans Heustess and Shana Heustess, and Braylen Evans Heustess, Khristian Lisbeth Heustess, West Jefferson, NC, and James Kyle Heustess, Clarkton, NC. Her in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. A. Kenneth Gault, Miami, FA, Millie Clark, Yadkinville, NC, and Shirley Rose Fisher Clark, Clarkton, also survive her. Five Evans nieces and nephews and 12 Clark nieces and nephews also survive her.

Trudie was born December 1, 1926; she graduated from Clarkton High School and Flora McDonald College, 1947. She maintained her connection with college friends and they still got together to catch up as long as she was able. They went to their 60th reunion at St. Andrews College two years ago. She taught school and raised her family in Clarkton, NC. She loved her family, community, and the Presbyterian Church.

She lived through all the changes in the greatest generation. In the early 1960s she was one of the first Head Start Teachers, when it was only a summer program. She spent several summers getting birth certificates for young children (which was done with the help of family Bibles and the fact that her Father had delivered many of the children). She taught them in an un-air conditioned classroom to prepare them for school, which was the beginning of integration of public schools. She knew reading was fundamental and dedicated herself not only to teaching Head Start but teaching and tutoring kids and adults most of her life. She believed education was the great equalizer. She was loved and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers the family ask that memorials be sent to First Presbyterian Church in Clarkton, NC, or the education institution of the donor's choice. Visitation will be at the First Presbyterian in Clarkton, NC on July 25, 2009 from 4 to 6 PM and the funeral will be July 26, 2009 at 2PM at the church.