Graveside Service
Prayer………………….………………..…………………….................... Pastor Neriah LeBlanc
Hymn…………………..…………..………..………………….............“Nearer My God To Thee”
Committal………..…..………………………………………………………….........Sis. Wallick
Service of
Thanksgiving
for the life of
Hymns.......................................................................................................“It Is Well With My Soul”
“Supper Time”
“Precious Memories”
“Rock Of Ages”
Suppertime
Rock of Ages
Many years ago in days of childhood
I used to play till evenin’ shadows come
Then windin’ down that old familiar pathway
I’d hear my mother call at set of sun.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from wrath and make me pure.
Come home, come home it’s suppertime
The shadows lengthen fast
Come home, come home it’s suppertime
We’re going home at last.
[Spoken]
Some of the fondest memories of my childhood
Were woven around suppertime
When my mother used to call
From the backsteps of the old homeplace
“Come on home now son it’s suppertime. “
Ahhhh, but I’d loved to hear that once more
But you know for me time has woven the realization of
The truth that’s even more thrilling and that’s when
The call comes up from the portals of glory
To come home, for it’s suppertime.
When all Gods children shall gather around the table
of the Lord, Himself, at the greatest suppertime of them all.
Come home, come home it’s suppertime
The shadows lengthen fast
Come home, come home it’s suppertime
We’re going home at last...
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Thanks And Acknowledgement
The family of the late Owen Kirkwood Evans, would like to thank our many wonderful relatives and friends for their loving and kind
expressions of sympathy during this difficult time. Your many phone calls, messages, visitations, emails, hugs and kisses touched our
hearts and were most appreciated. To Dr. Bonity and the wonderful, caring and amazing staff of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
and the Surgical Ward at the HSA, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love and attention you gave to our father.
To the Management & Staff of Bodden Funeral Home, thank you for your kind and comforting words
and your professionalism. May God bless each and every one of you!!!
Owen Kirkwood Evans
August 7, 1929 - January 13, 2017
WESLEYAN HOLINESS CHURCH
Northwest Point, West Bay, Grand Cayman
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Viewing 10:00 a. m. - 11:00 a.m
Service at 11:00 a.m
OFFICIATING MINISTERS
Sis. Wallick, Pastor Alson Ebanks
Pastor Stanwyck Myles, Pastor Neriah LeBlanc
ORGANIST
Sis. Dickerson
PIANIST
Mrs. Reina Jefferson
Interment at the West Bay Cemetery
Order Of Service
Near My God to Thee
Precious Memories
Words of Comfort…………..…………………………………………………….......................... Sis. Wallick
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Hymn……………………………………….………,…………….............................“Till The Storm Passes By”
Refrain: Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Precious memories, unseen angel
Sent from somewhere to my soul
How they linger ever near me
And the sacred past unfolds
Prayer……,……………………………………………………………............................. Pastor Alson Ebanks
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.
Musical Prelude…………..……………..………………….………..........………..................... Sis. Dickerson
Message…………………………….…………………………………………............................... Sis. Wallick
Solo: “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy”……................................. Hon. W. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP, MLA
Scripture Reading: John 10:28-29, Rev. 21:4..................................................................…… Stephanie Myles
Refrain: Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy
praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
TRIBUTES
Special Song………………………………………………………..…......…....................George Evans (Son)
Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren.....................…..……........................................................ Tina Harris
Sisters & Brothers…..……………………………………………........................ Capt. Eugene Ebanks, MLA
Roy Evans..................…..……................................................................................................ Stephanie Myles
Children……………………………………………………………….……............................ Rolston Anglin
Wife………..…………………………………………………………………………................ Nicole Crance
Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Seafaring Community……………………..………………...................... Capt. Owen Farrington, Cert. Hon.
Refrain: Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Refrain: Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Precious memories, how they linger
How they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight
Precious sacred seems unfold
As I travel on life’s pathway
I know not what the years may hold
And as I ponder, hope grows fonder
Precious memories flood my soul
Precious memories, how they linger
How they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight
Precious sacred scenes unfold
Precious sacred scenes unfold
Life Story ………..…………………………………........................ Hon. W. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP, MLA
Closing Hymn….……………………………………………………...................… “In The Sweet By And By”
Benediction……………………………..…………………………….......................... Pastor Stanwyck Myles
Recessional: “Amazing Grace”………………………….………................................................ Sis. Dickerson
PALL BEARERS
Nealy Dilbert
Ladner Evans
Chadd Clifton Bush
George Evans
Curley Evans
Dean Evans
HONOURARY PALL BEARERS
Nelson Crance
Alfred Hydes Snr.
Dave Christian
Corbin Myles
Roy Evans
Maxim Matienzo
George Evans Jr.
Owen Evans Jr.
Sean Evans
Stephen Evans
Mark Evans
Preston Evans
Zaine Evans
Rudolph Evans
Roderick Evans
Jerome Evans
Glen Evans
Jason Evans
Robert Ebanks
Errol Rudon
Errol Rudon Jr.
Stephan Baraud
Robert Baraud
Dean Lynee
Capt. Eugene Ebanks, MLA, JP
Charles Whittaker
Capt. Owen Farrington
Allan Bush
Ranburn Christian
Alfredo Powery
Gene Hydes
Philip Hydes
Capt. James Larribee Ebanks
Robert Ebanks
Hank Ebanks
Ronnie McDoom
Rolphie Braggs
Robert Smith
Kenneth Ebanks
Larry Smith
David Smith
Mario Ebanks
Leonard Ebanks
Davis Ebanks
Herme Hydes
Hon. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP MLA
Charles Clifton Bush
Gillard McLaughlin
Robert Evans
Zander Evans
Sean Evans
Johnny Evans
Dalkeith Ebanks
Enon Evans
Franklin Thompson Snr.
Dwight Moxam
McClaurn Anglin
Carlton McDoom
Shirley Dilbert
Brian Hydes
Harry Bush
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet,
though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
Refrain
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Refrain
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.
USHERS
Corbin Myles
Elizabeth Ebanks
GUEST BOOK ATTENDANTS
Bryan Hydes
Phillip Hydes
Ganita Myles
Julie Ebanks
Till the Storm Passes By
In the Sweet By and By
In the dark of the midnight,
Have I oft hid my face;
While the storm howls above me,
And there’s no hiding place;
‘Mid the crash of the thunder,
Precious Lord, hear my cry;
“Keep me safe ‘til the storm passes by.”
There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
Refrain: ‘Til the storm passes over,
‘Til the thunder sounds no more;
‘Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe ‘til the storm passes by.
Many times Satan whispers,
“There is no need to try;
For there’s no end of sorrow,
There’s no hope by and by”;
But I know Thou art with me,
And tomorrow I’ll rise;
Where the storms never darken the skies. Refrain
When the long night has ended,
And the storms come no more,
Let me stand in Thy presence.
On that bright, peaceful shore.
In that land where the tempest
Never comes, Lord may I
Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by. Refrain
Repeat:
Hold me fast, Let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe ‘til the storm passes by.
‘Til the storm passes by.
Refrain: In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.
To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days.
Life Story Of Owen Kirkwood Evans
Owen Kirkwood Evans was born in West Bay, Grand Cayman on August 7, 1929. He was the eldest son
of Oliver and Florence Evans (nee Smith) and had two brothers and six sisters. As a child, he attended school
“out on the bay” in West Bay and as was the custom in those days, he went off to sea to earn his livelihood
at a young age. His seaman’s career began when he sailed on ships such as the “Jemsons” and the “Adams” to
the Miskito Cays to get turtles. After a few years when the turtling trips slowed down, he followed the call of
many Caymanian men and joined the National Bulk Carrier Company and thus began his Southwell years .
A beautiful young lady from Old Bush by the name of Udell, who was a friend of Kirkwood’s sister, Phyllis
caught the eye of Kirkwood and he was instantly smitten. They were married in December 1950 and to this
union were born eight children, Rita, Ladner, Robert (Gabby), Alice, George, Celene, Virginia and Curley.
Udell worked hard as a housemaid to raise her children and with the money sent home from Kirkwood, she
and her older children, along with other family and friends worked on building their home.
It wasn’t long after Kirkwood came home from Southwell that he was back on the seas again; back to turtling
in the Miskito Cays with Capt. Larribee Ebanks and Capt. DeOscar (DD) Ebanks and their crew. When this
came to an end, Kirkwood worked the graveyard shift on the dredge in Governor’s Harbour. Finally, he landed
a job that didn’t involve being at sea and that was with the government Public Works Department, where he
retired after many years of service.
After retirement, Kirkwood took over the job from his father, Oliver Evans, as being the neighborhood
butcher and every Christmas he would butcher the cow and everyone would get their “Christmas beef.” He
loved to “tend” to his ground cultivating the soil and planting his many crops. He was also an avid fisherman
and owned a little fishing boat that he would use frequently to fish with his sons and son-in-law, Dave particularly. He used to complain about going fishing with Georgie, because Georgie would laugh too loud and scare
the fish.
Kirkwood loved to play dominoes and every Friday and Saturday afternoon there would be a domino game
taking place in the back yard. Hearing those dominoes slam down on the table and the arguments that ensued
as to who didn’t play their “hand” right was a part of the game itself.
In the early morning hours of October 12, 2009, Udell, Kirkwood’s wife of 59 years, died suddenly. This was
a very difficult time for the family and she was and still is sadly missed. Kirkwood enjoyed life and especially
loved spending time with his grandchildren and the neighborhood children. A few years later Kirkwood met
and married his current wife, Anaxi Sandavol (better known as Nancy), in December 13, 2013. Nancy was
constantly at his side and took very good care of him until his passing. Her daily visits with him at the hospital
were the highlight of his day.
Kirkwood loved his children, grand children and great grandchildren dearly. He always loved having them
around him and would always tell them that. He cherished the times that the family would get together, especially birthdays and Christmas. He was “papa” to all of the grand and great grand children, as well as the
neighborhood kids. His love for animals was so very evident. He would bring in every stray dog that passed
by the yard, feed them and they never left. He was so friendly with the chickens that they would walk right
through the kitchen door of the house and stand next to him or jump up on the table in the yard where he
would be sitting and he would feed them from his hand. Kirkwood was a strong disciplinarian and could never
be accused of “sparing the rod”. He disciplined his children when they needed it and his favourite tool was
“the switch”.
Kirkwood became ill in September 2016 and was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at the HSA, where he
spent the next seven weeks, then was transferred to the Surgical Ward until his release on Wednesday, January
11, 2017. He died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, January 13, 2017 at his home.
Sadly miss by: Loving wife, Nancy, Children: Rita Mae, Ladner, Robert (Gabby), Alice Faye, George, Celene,
Virginia, Curley and their families. Sisters: Betty, Dorothy, France, Ellie Mae, Phyllis. Brothers: Glen and Rudolph,
Grand Children, Great Grand Children, Nieces and Nephews. Special nephew, Roy and a host of other relatives and
friends.
May your soul rest in peace!!!
A Tribute To Uncle Kirkwoood
Tribute To Our Dear, Sweet Brother Kirkwood
Thank you all for coming today, to help us celebrate my
dear Uncle Kirkwood’s life and comfort us in this time of
grief. He was a speacial uncle to me and sometimes more
like a second father.
I believed I was his favourite nephew because he made
me feel that way, but to him we were all his favourite because he valued each one and loves us all for our unique
talents or characteristics.
Uncle loved to tell stories about the good old days when
he was growing up and he always used to talk about the fishing trips we had and doing other things like catching crabs.
We had so much fun together and got plenty sun burns out
on the water but I would not trade those memories for anything in the world.
He also taught me other things including how to butcher
a cow. He taught me respect and how to treat people with
kindness and said hard work never kill nobody, just like my
dear mother used to say.
He was a good man and someone I looked up to. I am
going to miss him very much and fishing just won’t be the
same without him, but I know he is in a better place.
Untill we meet again, tight lines my dear uncle, Rest In Peace.
We are so sorry to have lost you and will miss our special times together. You have left a void that cannot be
filled, but thank God for the wonderful memories. You had so many admirable qualities, including your jovial
disposition, your contagious laugh and good sense of humor. We nicknamed you BoBo and you truly were a
very protective big brother to your siblings and sometimes disciplined us.
We recall how you would keep us laughing at Christmas when you would do your rendition of “You Are
My Sunshine” with dad and your friends. You were also a keen fisherman, who also knew how to trap the green
turtles. As a boy, one of your greatest pleasures came
from sailing a Catboat in the annual regatta races and
winning the race.
You also were a good cook and had a knack for fixing
your mouth-watering turtle stew. We will miss spending Saturdays with you listening to the stories of your
adventures as a seaman, or just hanging out, playing
dominoes and taking the occasional drive.
We will always love you and will miss you dearly,
Bo Bo.
Your Nephew, Roy Evans.
Your loving brothers and sisters: Phyllis Rudon, Dorothy
Wilson, Glenn Evans, France Lynee, Rudolph Evans,
Ellie Mae Ebanks and Betty Baraud and their families.
My Dearest Husband, (Papa)
I give God thanks for being able to be your wife. You
have always treated me as the apple of your eye, and never
failed to make me know how much you loved me. You were
my darling and I was yours. The world is a hard enough
place to live in, but you never failed in providing me with
your arms and heart to shelter me; thank you for giving me
that kind of peace and protection. The day I married you, I
vowed to take care of you in sickness and in health, and to
love you always. No matter what state you were in, taking
care of you is exactly what I did.
Being by your side daily during your hospital stay taught
me so much more about what love, sacrifice, care and compassion really mean. I thought I was the one giving to you
by being your caregiver, but you were the one who really
gave so much to my heart in that process. I would do it all
over again just to have you with me longer, but I know you
can now finally be at peace.
I will miss your voice, your kisses, your smile and your
laugh. Thank you for accepting me, seeing my beauty and
wanting me as your wife. My sons and I will always love
you and never stop thanking you for being my favorite person in the world. Death cannot separate love.
May you finally have rest, my sweet.
I will always love you, Nancy.
To Our Beloved Papa
Tribute To Our Wonderful Father
You were a wonderful grandfather to your grandchildren, and great grand-children, and when you saw each
one of us your face would always light up.
We loved coming to your house where so many of our childhood memories were born. You and Gramma
would always open your home and hearts to us.
We will always remember you sitting under-neath the poinciana tree of your yard; looking so calm and relaxed. Sometimes you would even prop us up on the branch of the Poinciana tree and hold on to us, and sing
to us, being careful that we did not fall. Whenever we came into the yard you would always give us a hug and
want us to sit and talk with you for a little while. Oftentimes, you would have a cup of coffee or a plate of good
Caymanian food on the stove, and you would enjoy sharing that with us.
You were always an “outdoors” man. Sitting outside in your yard was like a refuge for you. Oftentimes, it
was where you invited friends and family to socialize with you. The ladies would gossip, and the men played
dominoes, while we as kids would listen to stories of the good old days. We as kids would sometimes get into
mischief when we played at your house. You would tell us “Unna stop the running! Unna gonna get hurted!”
Of course we would only listen after we got a bucked toe from riding up and down barefoot on the marl road
or a popped head playing tag.
And who can forget the wonderful fishing trips that you would take. These fishing trips would happen so
often, that Gramma Udell would say “Kirkwood, you going out again!!”. And we remember how you would
talk about “testing” the barracuda before you cooked it.
Papa, We don’t have a single memory of you without you smiling or grinning away. Even if you were in pain,
or tired, frustrated or sad, it didn’t take much to make you smile. We always looked forward to seeing you jump
off the Public Works Department truck, as you came home from work.
You were an excellent chef, baker, and farmer. You would make your own hot sauce from vinegar, carrots,
onions and scotch bonnet and sprinkle it on every meal. You were always planting cassava in the land next
door. What we didn’t know until a few years ago was that you were excellent at baking cassava cake. You grew
mangoes, neeseberries, papaya and bananas in your yard and shared them with us. Of course we were not allowed to pick them. We had to wait for you to share them out.
And who can forget the way you always loved and cared for the dogs in your front yard. Always having more
than one dog from the beginning of our memories until your passing at the age of 87. Everyone can remember
driving into Papa’s yard only to be greeted by Papa’s dogs. Papa, was always concerned if his dogs had eaten for
the day, or if they were sick. In his eyes, Papa’s dogs were like a part of the family. It is because of you that so
many of us love dogs today.
The best part about having you in our life, Papa, was that you always believed in the potential of your grandchildren and great grand-children to succeed in life no matter what. From the time we were little children, and
into adulthood, you never stopped telling us how great we could be.
You were a huge inspiration to us, and it will remain that way. Even as we became older you would always
try to give us advice at times, to guide us in the right direction in Life. You instilled fatherly principles in us so
that we could grow up to be fine young people in society
Thank you for serving your country as a seaman and a civil servant; for loving your family, animals, and
anyone that encountered your smile. Until we see your beautiful eyes again, we will keep the memories of you
in our hearts. We just want to tell you from our hearts that we will always love you, and as we get older, we
will try to be the people you always wanted us to be.
Daddy, even though this is a very sad time for us, just thinking about you and all the great memories we
have, brings a smile to our faces. It seems like just a few years ago that we were your little bare feet, fun loving,
frolicking, yet helpful, hardworking and respectful children. These are the traits that we were taught by you
and our dear and wonderful mother.
While you were gone from us for many years back and forth at sea, we learned to do our share in helping our
hardworking mother with the various responsibilities. Mama would send George and Alice Faye to the post
office at the end of the month to see if you had sent home the monthly allotment. Sometimes it was there and
sometimes it was not. When it was there, the two of them, so excited, would run home as fast as they could
to deliver the letters and money to mama. The letters would usually say, “tell the boys to be sure to keep the
grounds clean when they come out of school in the afternoon”, because you would be coming home soon. In
one of the letters you said, “tell Georgie and Gabby that when Dykie (Mr. Vandyke) starts the house, stand by
him and help him out”. We did just that and Uncle Howie also helped to show us how to mix the cement. He
would say, “boys come on nuh……….your poor mother needs to get into her house”.
You were very proud of Georgie, who you depended on to fix what needed fixing around the house. He
was the “jack of all trades”. You taught the boys how to fish and how to use the tools when making things.
We remember you as a very strong disciplinarian and Sunday afternoons after church you were particularly
strict. The routine was that when we got home from church we ate our lunch and had to take our afternoon
nap. Alice and George would be told, “alright now, get your pillow and go lay down by the front door and go
to sleep……..no grinning. I don’t want to hear a peep from the two of unna”. You would go to lie down with
the switch on your stomach, ready to pounce at the slightest crack from us. With the beautiful sounds of the
sweet organ music played upwind from us by McKeeva , we would finally drift off to sleep, but we never wanted
to get up afterwards.
Celene and Virginia recall that when they wanted to go to the Henry River’s Theater” on a Saturday night
they would hop on their bicycles and ride there to see the poster of what was showing that night (and usually
it was a Karate or Cowboy movie). In order for them to go, they had to “sweet mout” you into letting them go,
by doing all of their housework. Celene would always make Virginia do the most work since she was younger.
No problem, Virginia liked to “gad about” so she didn’t mind. You were very strict about the children going
anywhere at night and they were afraid to ask you, so many times they had to “put mama up to asking you for
permission and your favourite words were, “I guess so, but you would have to take Curley with you”. Also, on
Saturday afternoons we always knew daddy would be “going out on the town”, because around 3:00 he would
bring his shoes outside and polish them. When he left, we would go down the road to play with our cousins
McKeeva, Kerry and Steve and the other neighborhood kids.
Curley was the youngest and “the apple of your eye”. Celene and Virginia would tease him and make faces at
him, which made him cry all the time and he would run to you. They got many swats with the switch for teasing him. You always looked forward to when he would bring the grandkids Zander, Zaine and Brynn to see you.
They loved spending time with their papa.
Ladner, Gabby and Dave were your fishing buddies along with Georgie and you would almost always get
huge catches. You were very particular about your fishing gear, especially your “water glass” and your fish nets.
Daddy, you were always so welcoming to everyone who came by the house. even the animals and chickens.
You were such an animal lover; Virginia, in particular inherited that from you. Your radiant smile lit up a room
and your warmth and loving demeanor drew everyone close to you. We will miss the stories you would tell us
about your seaman days and growing up in West Bay. You lived a happy life and we thank God that you were
very healthy though it until the past few months. As we grew older, we understood and appreciated why you
disciplined us so strictly and how important it was to you, because it has made us better people today. We will
always cherish the wonderful memories and miss seeing your smiling face.
With all our love,
Your Beloved Grand Children and Great Grand Children.
Rest in peace!!
With all our love,
Rita Mae, Ladner, Robert (Gabby), Alice Fay, George, Celene, Virginia and Curley.