Funeral service for Billy Joe Evans, age 83, of Fayetteville, TN, will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, December 31, 2023, at Higgins Funeral Home with Donnie Browning officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 4 PM until 7 PM Saturday, December 30, 2023, at Higgins.
Billy Joe was born on November 23, 1940, in Lincoln County, at home in Mulberry. Growing up, Lynchburg was home. Mr. Evans was a 1958 graduate of Moore County High School and then attended MTSU on a football scholarship. At MTSU, he lettered all four years, was voted Most Valuable Lineman, served as team captain during his senior year, and played in two Tangerine (Citrus) Bowls. After graduation, Mr. Evans would start a lifelong career in coaching and education. Coach Evans started working at Moore County High School and later at Fayetteville Central High School as the football coach and an educator. In the age before playoffs, Coach Evans won seven championships in fourteen years of coaching. Later, Coach Evans became the first principal at Lincoln County High School. He was instrumental in the design, funding, and development of the consolidated LCHS. Mr. Evans played an integral role in building Falcon stadium. He rallied local businesses to offer support, and in essence, helped build what would become a key part of LCHS history. In 1988, Mr. Evans became the director of Fayetteville City Schools, where he would retire after 22 years of service. Billy Joe passed away on December 28, 2023, at HH Lincoln Health.
Mr. Evans attended First Baptist Church. He was a member of TSSAA Hall of Fame, Lincoln County Football Hall of Fame, Lincoln County High School Hall of Fame, Bank of Lincoln County Board of Directors, and served in leadership roles in countless other boards and organizations. Mr. Evans’ greatest achievement came on December 23,1961 when he married Gayle. Most of all Billy Joe loved spending time with his family. He could often be found cheering on his grandchildren and great-grandchildren at their sporting events, or spending time with his family on the lake.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Gayle Lynch Evans; daughter, Karrie (Rusty) Pittenger; son, Lance (Mary) Evans; grandchildren, Caroline Pittenger (Justin) Gault, Evan (Madison) Pittenger, Cole Evans, Maclain Evans, and Grace Hughes; great-grandchildren, Abby Kate, Jack, and Annie Gault; nieces, Sue Cary, and Judy Pierce; great-nephew, Jason (Lana) Groce, Logan and Allie; and his special little buddy next door, three-year-old Carter (LJ) Terry. Billy Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Collis Evans and Annie B McGee Evans; and sisters, Martha Evans, and Lucille Evans (Fred) Grammer.
Memorials may be made to the Fabulous Fifties Foundation, P.O. Box 934, Fayetteville, TN 37334, the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692, or Friends of the Patrick, 1001 Huntsville Highway, Fayetteville, TN 37334.
Higgins Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Billy Joe Evans.