George "Shirkie" Perry Evans Jr.

May 14, 1941 - December 17, 2021

Funeral services for George Perry Evans Jr., 80 years old, of Tyler will be held on Tuesday, December 21st, 2021 at 3 PM at Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church with the Rt. Rev. Walter R. Banek officiating. Burial will follow at the Evans Graveyard at the Evans Ranch in Gillespie Co., TX. Mr. Evans passed away on December 17, 2021 in Tyler, TX. Father, chef, raconteur, and outdoorsman, George Perry “Shirkie” Evans Jr. greeted everyone with equal warmth and fervor. He loved a good story and could embellish with the best. He was a joy to be around. Shirkie was born to George Perry Evans and Helen Anderson Evans on May 14, 1941 in Roswell, NM and was raised on a working ranch in Yoakum County, TX. He was homeschooled by his mother and graduated from St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque, NM. He often spent summers traveling with his grandfather, Joe Evans, a circuit preacher and author, to various camp meetings throughout the southwest. It was here that he spent time in the cook sheds learning skills that would serve him well in years to come. After high school, Shirkie served in the intelligence division of the US Army in Germany. Upon returning stateside, he attended New Mexico State and Texas School of Mines in El Paso. While in Texas, he started his career as an independent businessman. His first business was a ski shop in El Paso, then later in Dallas and Ruidoso, New Mexico. His love for entertaining and preparing meals for friends and family led him to open restaurants in resort towns, principally, Vail, CO. Arriving in Vail in a VW van touting “The Flying Zarnoffs” in circus font, his dog, Rusty, back flipped out of the front door and Shirkie followed in his leather motocross outfit. In Vail, he met and married Judy Sheely and raised two children: daughter, Tyne Gillian and son, Ryan Michael. Shirkie refined his cooking skills at The Left Bank under Luc and Liz Meyer before venturing out on his own. He was an avid skier and his first restaurant, Los Amigos, was situated at the base of the Vail mountain and is still a popular apres ski meeting ground. Shirkie’s own enterprises continued to expand; he had food processing plants, catering companies, a trucking business and ranching interests on the western slope of Colorado. His vibrant personality and extensive hobbies allowed him opportunities to play golf with Clint Eastwood, cater birthday dinners for President Gerald Ford, cook for thousands of people during many international ski races, rodeos and mountain bike races. He loved bird hunting, golfing, dirt bike racing, Bronco games and the occasional black powder rifle Mountain Man rendezvous. Shirkie was a long-time member of Gracious Savior Lutheran Church in Edwards, CO and attended Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church in Tyler, TX. Upon retirement he owned a hunt club outside of Montrose, CO, and later returned to TX to live out his final years with his children and grandchildren. The family is deeply grateful for the community of people who loved them through his latter years and particularly for the nursing and hospice staff at Briarcliff Health Center who showed great love and care for Shirkie. Shirkie was preceded in death by his sister, Kate Evans; he is survived by his loving family: Sister, Brigid McIntyre Evans; brother, John Trainor Evans; daughter, Tyne White and her husband Caleb, grandchildren Avery, McClaine, Audrey and Reece; son, Ryan Evans and his wife Elizabeth, grandchildren Sage and Lenna. Because Shirkie was life-long member of the Means and Evans Camp at Bloys’ Campmeeting, family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made if so desired to the Means/Evans Camp at Bloys’ Campmeeting: Means/Evans Association 6624 Longfellow Dr. Dallas, TX 75230