Carey Evans

Carey Lou Evans entered the kingdom of Heaven on April 15, 2022. She was 77 years young. “Koke” was born on August 27, 1944 in Enid, the daughter of Louis Bucholz and wife Cleta Faye Waggoner Bucholz.

After graduating from Billings High School, she attended Tonkawa College and then moved to Dallas to work as a telephone operator. It was in Dallas that she met the love of her life, Jim Evans. The story goes, Koke and her friends met up with three Dallas Cowboy football players who were homesick. The boys asked if they bought the food would the girls cook them dinner. That night Jim was quick to ask Koke out for a date. Soon after, he was traded to New York to play for the Jets and he flew Koke out to New York City. They were married on November 28, 1964. Together they raised 4 children and remained happily married for 55 years. In 1981, they moved from El Paso, TX to Billings, OK where they owned and operated Koke's Cafe & Bar as well as the Oasis Drive In. She also worked for many years at Rush Metals as a Material handler.

Koke learned to coyote hunt as a young girl when her Dad took her and her sisters with him. She later shared this hobby with her kids and grandkids by taking them along on occasion. She also was an avid bowler, winning many trophies and awards. She enjoyed entering handmade crafts into the county fair through her long-time membership of the Billing’s women’s club “Town and Country”. Many of the ladies in the group remember Koke as a very helpful and proud member.  Most of all in Koke’s own words “my grandchildren and great grandchildren were the most precious things in my life”. Koke and Jim traveled extensively to watch them play in various sporting events, to attend graduations and just to spend time with family.

She loved the Lord and passed that love down to her family. She was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Billings. Koke was as strong as they come and because of her strength and tenacity she was blessed with a long life full of love and happiness.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Cleta, sisters Sharon McKeown and Sue Ehlers, and beloved husband Jim.  She leaves behind to cherish her memory, son Bart Evans and his wife Toni of Wichita, KS, Daughter Sherri Sharp and her husband Daron of Calera, OK, son Clinton Evans and his wife Candy of Garber, OK, Son Brandon Evans and his wife Cat of Billings, OK, nine grandchildren: Kacie Hoffman and her husband Ryan of Wichita, KS, Laine Evans of Wichita, KS, Holly James and her husband Jesse of Ada, OK, Boston Sharp of Fayetteville, AR, Makenzie McCutchen and her husband Sean of Fayetteville, AR, Shaylon Sharp of Calera, OK, Diamond Pierce and her husband Shelton of Billings, OK, Jordan Evans of Billings, OK, and Caidon Evans of California. Also surviving are five great-grandchildren : Austen Hoffman, Rylee Hoffman, Hannah Murphy, Cohyn James and Parker Mccutchen as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Minister Floyd Westfall will preside over the funeral services.

Friends are welcome to stop by Dugger Funeral Home to sign the book and pay their respects on Friday, April 22nd, 2022 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Billings starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Interment at Billings Union Cemetery will follow at approximately 3 p.m.