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Obit For Judge Burrell Leeander Evans
Headline Judge Evans Passes Away
Text Judge B. L. Evans died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. H. Martin, in this city, Friday afternoon at 1:40 o'clock at the age of 77 years, 8 months and 20 days.

Judge Evans had not been in good health for two or three years. One year ago in this month he had a shoulder blade and some ribs broken and was otherwise injured in a runaway. The injuries received at that time greatly aggravated a complication of troubles then developing from old age and his once strong and vigorous body began to rapidly fall. A number of years ago he was kicked by a horse and had the bones of his right leg badly crushed at the knee. A few years ago he was operated on for a trouble affecting the lower jaw but regardless of his advanced age, his excellent physical manhood enabled him to recover as if a youth. But the severe shock and injuries of one year ago proved too much and his iron constitution gave way to the infirmities of age. Since July he had been pretty closely confined at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Martin who gave him the tenderest and most devoted care until he passed away Friday into that sleep that knows no waking.

Burrel L. Evans was born in Henry County, Ind., Sept 1, 1837. When quite young his parents moved to Holt County, Missouri. He was reared on a farm in that county. In 1860 he was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Lloyd of that county. To them were born three children, Mrs. W. H. Martin of this city, Jess of Elszey and Perry, deceased.

A few years after he married the family moved to Omaha, Neb., where Mr. Evans had a position with a large mercantile establishment. Later they lived at Council Bluffs and at Pacific City, Iowa, where he was engaged as a carpenter and contractor and a part of the time in the cattle business. In the seventies the family moved to Barry County, which had since been his home.

In October 1887 he and his son, Perry L., purchased the D. T. Wainright general store at Pioneer and for some time was engaged in the mercantile business, afterwards locating on a farm near Pioneer where he lived until the death of Mrs. Evans in June 1911. Since that time he had made his home with his son, Jess and with his daughter, Mrs. Martin.

For more than forty years Judge Evans had been one of this county's most substantial, widely known and highly esteemed citizens. In 1878 he was elected Probate Judge of Barry County and for a term of four years made an excellent official, discharging his duties to the entire satisfaction of the people.

Since a young man he had been a member of the M. E. Church, South and had lived an exemplary Christian life. He was a most excellent type of the old pioneer citizen - few of whom are left - whose life was simple yet always clean, wholesome and true, guided by high ideals of manhood, due reverence to this God and love for his fellow man. Such rugged characters - such examples of upright and righteous living - are a blessing to any community and their passing is a distinct loss.

The body was embalmed by Undertaker Horine and taken Sunday to Munsey Chapel, 2 miles north of Wheaton, where it was laid to rest.

Short services were held at the Martin home Sunday morning. The funeral was held from the Munsey Chapel Church at 2 o'clock Sunday. Both services were conducted by Rev. T. H. Hickman of this city.
Newspaper or Funeral Home Cassville Republican
Date May 27, 1915, Thursday
Death Cert Link Death Certificate
Resource State Historical Society of MO Microfilm
Submitted by Donna Cooper