Billie Darlene Evans, our beloved Mrs. Evans, was born on March 31, 1943, in the small town of McAdoo, Texas. She passed away peacefully on March 30, 2026, at Mercy One Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Billie was 82½ years old, just 2½ hours from her 83rd birthday. The irony of arriving and departing this world on the cusp of spring would not have escaped her.
Billie married Ralph Wayne Evans on June 6, 1964, in McAdoo, Texas. The couple were blessed with two children, Patricia and Tiffani.
Billie Evans received her bachelor’s degree at McMurry College (now University) in Abilene, Texas, and obtained her master’s degree at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She was a distinguished member of Kappa Phi in college.
Billie was a renowned and respected classroom instructor who taught over 45 years in central and southern Iowa, including Diagonal Community Schools (1 year), Murray Community Schools (1 year), Lamoni Community Schools (33 years), and Graceland College (10 years).
It was at Lamoni Community Schools where Billie Evans established and left her legacy. Mrs. Evans was not just a language arts teacher; she was a passionate steward of the English language who encouraged all of her students to rise to the challenge of the power and beauty of fine writing and speaking skills. Whether she was lecturing to a literature class, editing a yearbook layout, directing a speech team or dramatic play, Billie Evans never took a shortcut. She was in the project, the production, or the unit plan for the long haul—to completion’s end. She expected the same attitude and effort from her students. Time and time again, Mrs. Evans succeeded. Her resumé of honors’ college graduates, authors, professional employees and fellow teachers—all of whom were students of hers—is inexhaustible. In 2024, the class of ’76 presented Billie with an “Exemplary Teacher” award at their reunion in Kansas City.
Upon retirement, Billie remained active in a number of groups and organizations including the Lamoni United Methodist Church as director of the children’s Christmas play, organizer of the church library, member of the SPRC board, helper at Vacation Bible School, and local founder of the women’s group ‘Susannah’s Methodist Society.’ She was also a member of the Decatur County Hospital Auxiliary and Friends of Decatur County Hospital.
Billie Evans was a woman of diverse interests, talents and skills. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and ensured that they learned to swim—because she could not. She loved to read and garden and was especially fond of her bluebonnets, the Texas state flower. Billie loved to shop for her Santa collection and had amassed over 300 of the red-suited figurines. She loved to visit with her closest friends. Billie loved to go to Des Moines with daughter Tiffani to get their nails done. She loved to go on road trips to Texas with daughter Patricia.
Billie Darlene Evans is preceded in death by her father, Silar James Griffith; mother, Minnie Martelia Hoover Griffin; brother, Leo Griffin; sister, Lela Dean; sister, Jolene Story; brother, John William Griffin; brother, Leon Griffin; brother, Robert Wayne Griffin (stillborn); brother, Jessie Lee Griffin (stillborn); stepsisters, Modene Scott, Anna Grimes and June Sawyer; and stepbrother, Bobby Griffin.
She is survived by daughter Patricia Evans (Shane Davis, husband) of Osceola, Iowa; daughter Tiffani Martin (Lance Martin, husband) of Osceola, Iowa; grandchild Maddy Martin (Mark Greif, partner) of Woodburn, Iowa; grandchild Alexander Edwards of Garden Grove, Iowa; grandchild Aiden Edwards of Ankeny, Iowa; grandchild Ace Edwards of Osceola, Iowa; grandchild Braxten Martin of Osceola, Iowa; stepsister Cleta VanMeter (James Earl VanMeter, husband) of McAdoo, Texas; stepsister Neta Hickman of McAdoo, Texas; sister-in-law Lillie Mae Davis of Spur, Texas; and sister-in-law Eileen Howard of West Des Moines, Iowa, along with many nieces and nephews and many friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lamoni United Methodist Church, the American Diabetes Association, or Clarke County Animal Shelter.
