Evelyn Janes Anderson Feb 9, 1915 – Dec. 21, 2013

Evelyn Irene Janes Anderson, 98, of Corpus Christi, Texas, met her Lord and Savior on Dec. 21, 2013. Evelyn was born on Feb. 9, 1915 in Agua Dulce, Panama, to missionary parents, L.Y. and Una Janes. After one year, the family returned to the United States and resided in Oklahoma. In 1934, the Janes family, now with three girls, moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, where they established Christian Triumph Company and Church of God at 905 Bluntzer St. The Janes girls worked alongside their parents in printing gospel literature that was sent throughout Latin America and English-, Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries throughout the world. After marrying Noel Anderson, Evelyn and Noel moved to Guthrie, Okla., for some years to continue the work for Christian Triumph Company there. Una Nolavyn and William were born while they lived in Oklahoma. In 1946, the Anderson family returned to Corpus Christi and took up residency at 917 Bluntzer, where they remained permanently. Soon, two more children were added to the family—David and Violet.

Evelyn had two passions: Jesus and her family. Her gift of evangelism was such that anyone who had anything more than the briefest of encounters with her was exposed to the Good News about Jesus Christ. She carried tracts with her constantly and handed them out at every opportunity. She used her writing, copy editing and secretarial talents in support of Christian Triumph’s mission. From 1961 until she “retired,” she coordinated Spanish Bible correspondence courses. She was well known in this community for her work in the local congregation as Sunday school teacher and assistant to her father. And yet, she was probably best known for her travels as a representative of Christian Triumph Company. Evelyn made her first mission trip in the early 60s, and travelled so extensively for the next 30 years that it would be quicker to list the countries of Central and South America she did not visit (Belize, Brazil, the Guyanas and Suriname). She fearlessly traveled to remote places to encourage the growth of the evangelical church in Latin America. Evelyn worked until she literally could not work anymore—often struggling an entire day to write one letter as Alzheimer’s advanced. Her prayer for this work she so thoroughly loved was that it would continue until Jesus returns.

Evelyn was a devoted daughter, caring personally for her mother and father until their deaths—her father at age 102! She was a faithful and dutiful wife and a loving mother to her four children. She also was very involved in the lives of her grandchildren, particularly those who lived locally. Regardless of distance, she was devoted in prayer to all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She cared for us tenderly, always ready to fry up some fish or deer meat, pull out the divan and read a Bible bedtime story; but her main concern was always our spiritual welfare. What a blessed spiritual heritage we have had.

Evelyn Anderson is preceded in death by her father, mother and two sisters, Edith Compton and Lois Donaldson, her husband Noel Anderson, and grandchildren Travis Anderson and Hunter Schillinger. She is survived by her children Una and Sam Collins, William and Nora Anderson, David Anderson, and Violet and George Coker; grandchildren Juli Ginn, Donna Schillinger, Jonathan Collins, Tamara Rose, Debra Denton, Shannon Degge, Kristi White, Rod Anderson, Will Anderson, Austin Anderson, Tim Anderson, Adam Anderson, Mary Anderson-Beaty, Ryan Anderson, Billy Anderson, Evelyn Anderson and John Anderson; and great-grandchildren Alisha Sackett, Christopher Collins, Jessica Woodard, Anita Kimbrell, Felicia Rose, Justin Denton, Kaylin Rose, Gwendolyn Anderson, Courtney Denton, Adam Denton, Reagan White, Lillian Anderson, Chaise Schillinger and Axel Beaty; and eight great, great-grandchildren.

Evelyn is now part of that “great cloud of witnesses,” and we praise God for a godly mother, grandmother and friend. There is no better way to honor her life than that we “strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 (LB)