Laura Lea Evans

 Philo - Laura Lea Evans, 87, passed away at home in Philo from natural causes on

January 21, 2026, attended by her husband and daughter.

Burial was a private family graveside service at Mount Olive Cemetery in Mayview on January 28, 2026.

Laura was born January 25, 1938 in Homer, Illinois to F. Clyde and Goldia (Leonard)
Ford. Her family later moved to Royal and she graduated from Ogden High School in
1956. On September 15, 1956 she and Marion ‘Sonny’ Evans eloped to Corinth,
Mississippi.

After our first son was born on December 14, 1957, she spent the next
eleven years raising four kids almost single handedly while Sonny served in the Navy
and then worked nights as a plant operator for the water company.

In 1968 she began 47 years of working as a shipping/receiving clerk for first Kmart, then
Jerry’s IGA, and finally County Market. She loved work, was well respected and liked no
matter where she was working, and really hated it when she had to retire.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents, brother Fred, two half sisters Wanda
Moore and Daisy Clark, and our oldest son Clifford Lee Evans.

Surviving Laura is her husband Sonny, sons Jeffrey (Terry) Evans of Ocala, Florida and Anthony (Peggy)
Evans of Philo, and daughter Lila Evans of Tolono. She is also survived by four
grandchildren, Roissa Evans of Montgomery, Alabama, Jamie (Nick) Fainter of Ivesdale,
Tyler (Courtney) Evans of Tolono, and Joel (Katie) Evans of Tolono, plus nine fantastic
great-grandchildren (Kenzlee, Odin, Clark, Vivian, Jensyn, Axel, Stanley, Swae, and
Austen) and numerous nieces and nephews.

We wish to thank the entire Carle Hospice team, specifically Abby and Linda, for their
guidance and kindness. Memorials donations may be made to the Champaign County
Humane Society or an organization of the donors choice.

Freese FH 1/30/2026