Palestine High School Alumni Association

01 / 30 / 1911  –  06 / 29 / 2009

Evelyn Davis Jordan passed away June 29, 2009, after sustaining a head injury following an accidental fall a few hours earlier. After 98 years of blessed time on this earth, she is peacefully in the arms of her Lord and Saviour. Evelyn lived every day with hope and love and died leaving a full calendar of summer plans. She was a lifetime resident of Palestine, Tx., and was peacefully living in her home where she had resided for almost 70 years. Born on the family farm in Pert, TX, on Jan. 30, 1911, Evelyn’s had vivid memories of the early 1900’s such as hitching up the horse and wagon and riding to town on Saturdays, helping at her father’s cotton gin, and lighting an oil lantern every morning to practice her piano lessons.

Her parents were Charles Dixon Davis and Johnnie Edna Cox, whose parents were pioneer settlers from North Carolina to Anderson County in 1867. The land purchased in 1868 by them is still a part of the Davis family today. Evelyn was the 7th and youngest child, and her deceased siblings include Alva Davis Robinson, John Tom Davis, Charles Clifford Davis, and Sarah Davis Earle. Over 98 years of life were hardly long enough for Evelyn. She lived each day to the fullest and was always ready for something more. No one can understand how Evelyn could fill one day with so many activities, people and fun, but she did, and she enjoyed every second with her family and friends. She was truly interested in everyone’s life, and she did not want to miss a minute of anything. Evelyn could never comprehend the fact her family was always so proud she was in her 90’s and still sporting a youthful spirit that was contagious to all because, in reality, she never saw herself as “old. “Evelyn’s early school years were spent in a one-room, white schoolhouse in Pert, walking five miles each way to school; she went on to graduate from Palestine High School in 1926 at the age of 15. Evelyn then attended SMU and studied under Dr. Paul van Katwijk where she graduated in 1931 with two degrees, a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Public School Music. She also earned a degree from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. The Chopin, Bach, and Beethoven classical pieces she performed or her SMU senior recital were still played beautifully by Evelyn to this day. Her special touch on the piano blessed many people. After college, Evelyn taught private piano lessons in Palestine. In the days where women rarely traveled abroad, she and her sister Sara lived in Puerto Rico in 1933 for a year, where Evelyn taught English and music. Evelyn also had an apartment in Central Park, New York, where she continued her music studies.

On Christmas Day in 1938, Evelyn married the love of her life, Henry Latimer Jordan, a longtime Palestine attorney who died 62 years later in 2001. Henry and Evelyn were enthusiastic bridge players and enjoyed many great years in bridge clubs and playing with their fun-loving friends. Together they loved to travel and enjoyed taking many cruises together. Although Evelyn grew up in the little country Methodist Church in Pert, founded by her parents, she has been an active member of the First Presbyterian church in Palestine for around 60 years, where she often played the piano. Evelyn was active in her beloved Guion Music Club, DAR, bridge clubs and the Harvey Women’s Club, where she loved spending time with her dearest friends. She was an avid tennis player and participated in tournaments where she won several championships with her daughter Judy.

Evelyn encouraged people of all ages in playing tennis, and she played herself well into her 80s. She has been an enthusiastic member of the YMCA for years. Evelyn was even exercising and socializing at the Palestine YMCA the day before her death. Above all, Evelyn’s joy was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was generous, gracious and the perfect role-model for simplicity, a positive attitude and Christ-like living. Evelyn knew what was important in life and never compromised. She was deeply loved and cherished by her family and will be dearly missed and her legacy will live on. The family wishes to thank Brenda Pineda and her wonderful team, Paula, Christine and Rosetta, for their devoted care and support.

Evelyn is survived by her son, William “Will” Davis Jordan and wife Toby; grandsons, Rusty Jordan and wife Irene, daughters Kathryn and Jeanne; Stephen Jordan and wife Misti, daughters Carolina and Lexi Anne; daughter, Judy Jordan Eckert and husband Pete; granddaughters, Holly Eckert, who lived with Evelyn for several years; Helen Eckert Roberson, sons Ryan and Reid; Dr. Lindsay Eckert, and Lauren Eckert; grandson, Randy Eckert and wife MariClaire, children Connor and Emerson.

Published in the Herald-Press from 7/1/2009 – 7/2/2009