Lawrence Charles Evans

Lawrence Charles (Jack) Evans, 87, of Visalia, CA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, with his loving wife, Alta, at his side. Jack was born at home, in Ivanhoe, CA, on January 25, 1937 to Russell and Anna Mae Evans who had arrived in California from the Dust Bowl conditions of Missouri just a few months earlier, in pursuit of a better life out West. The family settled in Ivanhoe, where Jack often helped care for his two younger brothers while their parents worked in the fields and packinghouses. Jack spent all his life in Ivanhoe and Visalia, and attended Mt. Whitney High School. He was a very intelligent and resourceful person. He loved creating things. As a kid, he made radios and was a ham radio operator. At the age of 18, he learned to build houses while working one year for a building contractor. Jack married Alta Isaacs 3 weeks after their first date, and they were in love and inseparable for 67 years. They had no children, but they mentored and helped raise many kids who call them "mom and dad". Like his parents, Jack's first jobs as a young boy were in the fields and packing houses. His first adult job was with Leffingwell Ag Chemical Company where he worked many years, before managing citrus and olive orchards. In 1978, he Joined Mill Creek Company, as a general building contractor, with his brother, Bill Evans, a realtor. Together, they built and sold hundreds of homes in Visalia. Jack was very respected by city inspectors, the local construction industry, and the people who lived in the homes he built. Jack and Alta loved Jesus, and were dedicated Christians. Most of their lives they were members of the Ivanhoe Pentecostal Church of God. Most recently, they were members of the Visalia Nazarene Church. Jack's greatest joy was traveling all over the country with Alta, especially to Hawaii, where they took 20 wonderful vacations. They were very generous, and often took family and friends with them. Jack was also a skilled photographer and documented their adventures around the world. Jack and Alta spent 30+ years supporting church missions in foreign countries and Native American communities in the Southwest. They paid for and helped build churches on Indian reservations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. They also built churches in Brazil, the Philippines, and Trinidad. They received many awards for their contributions to these missions. Jack will be remembered for his love for Alta, his friendliness, honesty, hard work, generosity, and his love of God. He is survived by his wife, Alta Evans; brother, Bill Evans; sister-in-law, Florence Evans; and brothers-in-law, Harley Isaacs and Lynnie Isaacs. He was a beloved uncle to nephews, Bill Evans Jr., Jeff Evans, and Michael Evans; nieces, Marianna Alvarado, Jennifer Lucio, and Elizabeth Evans, and a great- and great-great uncle to many more. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Anna Mae Evans, and brother, James (Jim) Evans. The viewing will be Sunday, September 8, 2024 from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, 127 E. Caldwell Ave, Visalia, CA. The funeral service will be held Monday, September 9, 2024, at 10:30am at the Visalia Nazarene Church, 3333 W Caldwell Ave., Visalia, CA. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Lawrence Charles Evans

January 25, 1937 - August 28, 2024