Grace Lanell Evans

Grace Lanell Evans was surrounded by her two sons and their wives, Danny and Penny, and Matt and Tera, as she passed from this world into the loving arms of Jesus on Monday, April 3, 2023. The family will receive friends from 5pm until 7pm, Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Memorial Services will be held at 10am, Thursday, April 6, 2023 at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel. A private family interment will be held at Trinity Memorial Park.

Lanell was born in Big Spring, Texas, on November 24, 1944. Lanell was the youngest daughter born to Jesse and Lucille Overton. Lanell, her older brother, Jesse Louis, and her older sister, Lorita, attended Forsan schools, participated in stock shows, and attended Forsan Baptist Church. Lanell graduated from Forsan High School in 1963. Lanell attended Howard College, then Wayland Baptist, and finished her degree at Hardin Simmons. During that time, she married and had the two biggest blessings of her life, Danny Wayne and Matthew Lynn Evans.

Lanell taught English and journalism for two years at Garden City High School but said she felt the Lord urging her to resign. Just weeks later, her beloved father passed unexpectedly from a heart attack. She knew then the Lord had her leave teaching so she could spend the next part of her life raising her two sons, running the ranch, and caring for her mom, who eventually moved in with her.

Lanell spent her life bringing joy to everyone who knew her. She taught a women’s Sunday school class at Forsan Baptist in the same church she had been raised in. She helped with the youth and was an integral part of forming a group for the older people in the church, which they named the “JOY Group,” which lovingly stood for “Just Older Youth.” She became licensed to drive the church bus to help get them to their fun destinations like Colorado and New Mexico. She also spent many years driving the church bus in the streets of Forsan to pick up children who wanted to attend VBS and church activities. As the years passed and many members had already gone to their heavenly home, Lanell continued traveling with a group of special friends to places like Georgia, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park. Lanell and her longtime friend, Pat Barron, also made many trips to Lost Maples to admire God’s handiwork in the fall foliage. In 1996, she also began her favorite role in life-becoming a grandparent. Lanell spent a lot of time deciding on a name, but when her first grandchild called her “Ma,” she said there was nothing else sweeter that she could imagine being called.

Tyler Cole, Joshua William, Garrett Lane, Jenna Grace, and Paul Robert were the joys of her life. She spent the rest of her almost 27 remaining years loving them and their parents so beautifully. Ma threw streamer parties, had Dr. Pepper tea parties, and took them on rides in the pasture. As they entered school, she became one of their biggest fans in everything they participated in. She surprised her daughters-in-law with cameras that let them capture pictures of grandkids’ activities close enough to see their “nose hairs.” Many of the grandkids’ friends and people at church joined in calling her “Ma,” and she loved that people felt that way about her. During the last month of her life, she experienced the joy of meeting her first great-grandchild, Cohen Wayne Chowning.

As dementia started affecting her more, she needed help during the day. Every caregiver that cared for Lanell fell in love with her sweet loving spirit, and most also called her Ma. For years, she told people she started every morning by praying to “be nice.” Her sweet, sweet spirit was present to the very last day as she interacted with her beloved family and friends, her incredible caregivers, and Solaris Hospice Team in Fort Worth, where she lived.

In lieu of flowers, Lanell requested donations be made to your favorite missions organization, which she dearly loved supporting, or the charity of your choosing.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Grace Lanell Evans, please visit our Tribute Store.