Charles “Jiggs” Evans, 89, of Scottsbluff, died Friday, January 3, 2014 at Golden Living Center in Scottsbluff. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 9, 2014 at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Scottsbluff with Fr. Mark Selvey officiating. Interment will be in West Lawn Cemetery in Gering with military rites conducted by the United States Navy. Visitation will be Wednesday January 8, 2014 between 9:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel with the family present between 6-8:00p.m. Masonic services will be given by Ralph Hilyard at 6:30 p.m. Memorials have been established to St. Francis Episcopal Church or to Sunflower Chapter #214 OES.
Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com
Jiggs was born March 18, 1924 in Mitchell, NE to Charles J. and Ethel (Labertew) Evans. He received his education in Mitchell schools. He lived in Stuart, NE where he worked for the White Horse Ranch as a Rodeo Trick Rider and trainer. He entered the Navy December 7, 1942 and served as a Gunners Mate on the destroyer USS Sanders for 2 ½ years. He received the American Theater ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with 4 Bronze Stars and the National Defense Ribbon. Jiggs was honorably discharged January 13, 1946.
Jiggs returned to Mitchell and married Lela May Strong August 11, 1946 in Mitchell. Jiggs ranched and fed cattle for several years which, was an important part of his life. He was a commercial pilot, flight instructor and flew crop dusters and sprayers, and was a pilot for Lockwood Corporation. He was employed part time for Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel for several years.
Jiggs was a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church, Admiral Dewey Post #1681 VFW, Past Master Mitchell Lodge #263 AF & AM, Past Grand Patron Grand Chapter of Nebraska Order of the Easter Star, Past Patron Sunflower chapter #214 Order of Eastern Star, and past member of Tehama Temple Shrine, Hastings, NE and Panhandle Shrine Club, Scottsbluff, Scottsbluff Elks Lodge #1367 and serviced for twenty-five years on the Scotts Bluff County Fair board.
Jiggs is survived by his wife Lela, daughters: Marilyn Kay (Curtis) Timm, Laramie, WY, Charleen May (Larry) Collins, and Rita Rae (Jim Peppler) Rahmig of Scottsbluff, NE; sister Guila Faulkner, Scottsbluff, NE; several grand and great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.