Mrs. Joanne (Geringer) Evans dies

06.16.2010
Joanne A. (Geringer) Evans of Orchard City, age 74, passed away in the Horizon's Nursing Home Care Center after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, with her oldest daughter by her side.

She was born June 20, 1935 to Anna Lorraine (Foner) and John Phillip Geringer, in La Junta. Her parents were from German-Dutch immigrant ancestry and Mrs. Evans was forced to learn English in the rural one room schoolhouse. She was one of eight children. She was the oldest of five daughters and she had three brothers. They grew up on family farms in LaJunta, Rocky Ford and the Turkey Ranch & Farm in Cheraw. She graduated from Cheraw High School in 1954. She was preceded in death by her parents, along with two brothers Phillip of Rocky Ford and Martin of southern Colorado.

She was married to her high school sweetheart Orville "Oscar" Evans in Englewood at the University Hills Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, July 31, 1955. Oscar was also born and raised in the Arkansas Valley in Manzanola of Crowley County.

Mrs. Evans was a homemaker and did cottage industry work from home. Along with general bookkeeping for the family business, she did clerical work outside of the home. She worked for many diverse companies over the years, including State Farm and Matte's & More in Cory before she retired six years ago. After starting a family, owning and operating several barber shops in the Denver Metro area, Mr. and Mrs. Evans sought a rural community to raise their three pre-teen children. In 1972 the Western Slope became the place to build their new home in Orchard City.

The Evans' enjoyed many activities together; their ministry work, traveling, hobbies and antiquing. One of her favorite trips overseas was to Greece. Mrs. Evans will always be remembered for her homemade hot cinnamon rolls and playing mean rounds of billiard pool. Her stay at Horizon's Nursing Home satisfied one of her biggest passions for feeding and watching birds of all types in the aviary.

She is survived by her life long partner, Orville "Oscar" Evans, three children; Tammy (Bob) Theis of Montrose, Reyna (Nathan) Humphrey of Grand Junction, and Randy (Pat) Evans of Bennett East of Denver; five grandchildren: Tara Theis of Denver, Courtney Evans of Denver, Elizabeth Evans of Greeley, Travis Theis of Denver, Alicia Evans and her daughter Madelyn of Bennett; her sisters Christina Geringer of Greeley, Lorraine McClaskey of Thornton, Josephine Geringer of Rocky Ford, and her youngest sister Sarah Geringer of Fowler and her youngest brother Paul in Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, in memory of JoAnne Evans, P.O. Box 24, Delta, Colo. 81416. Or the Cedaredge Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, 280 Jay Road, Cedaredge, Colo. 81413.

Cremation has already taken place. Internment will be at the Cedaredge Cemetery. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 280 Jay Rd., Cedaredge. Followed by a reception for family and friends in Delta.