Mary Ellen Evans Columbia, SC Mary Ellen McCants Evans, widow of Dr. W.E. (Bill) Evans, died Tuesday, June 2, 2015. She was born in Anderson, S.C., September 27, 1924, the daughter of Edwin Clyde and Mary Rachel Taft McCants. Mary Ellen was a 1941 graduate of Girls' High School in Anderson, S.C., and earned a B.A. degree from Elon College (now Elon University) in 1945. In August of that year, she married William Ellis Evans and joined him in Atlanta while he completed his degree in dentistry. For a brief time, they lived in Union, S.C., until he was called into military service and sent to Korea. During the first year of his service in Korea, Mary Ellen taught school in Calhoun Falls and Anderson, S.C. When her husband was transferred to Japan, she joined him there. Their first child was born in Japan shortly before their return to the United States. Dr. Evans soon opened his dental practice in Anderson and there, five more children were added to their family. It was a happy home, one to which the children were always free to bring their friends. Mary Ellen once said that she never knew how many extra people to expect when they gathered at the table for meals. Challenges, yes, but always a sense of a shared Christian spiritual life, ample joy and fun to go around, the quality of discipline that shaped the six children into worthy adults, encouragement in educational pursuits, and the daily blessing of love. Mary Ellen was also involved in the life of the community in many different ways, as a member of the Woman's Club, a volunteer for the local hospice organization, Meals on Wheels and the ministry of the Salvation Army, and always committed service for the church. She was a member of St. John United Methodist Church until she joined her husband in the First Baptist Church. Later she and Dr. Evans became dedicated members of the Young Memorial Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, where she lived out her Christian faith as President of the Women of the Church, a circle leader, and Sunday school teacher. After the death of her husband, she continued to live in Anderson until 2009, when she moved to Laurel Crest Retirement Center in Columbia. Here she made many new friends, helped in the work of the gift shop, served on the food service committee, enjoyed the weekly bridge and bingo games, and played piano for the Bible study group. Mary Ellen is survived by her children: Bill Evans, Ed Evans, Gracie and Glenn Farrow, Emalee and Mark Dillard, Chris and Norma Evans, Jeannie and Kent Everett; her grandchildren: Mary Rachel and Brandon Dean, Rebecca and Michael Scott, Amie and Chris Freeman, Alison and Ray Forbes, Sydney Evans, Carson Evans, Ellis and Heath Major, Zak and Caytee Chapman, Andres Blandon, Dan Saavedra; her great grandchildren: Griffin and Rowyn Scott, Parker and Emily Dean, Mia Freeman; and her brother, Clyde Taft McCants. Friends are invited to join the family in a service of worship of thanksgiving remembering Mary Ellen's life and faith at the Young Memorial Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 508 Boulevard, Anderson, S.C., 29621, on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. The family suggests that instead of flowers, those who wish to do so may make contributions in Mary Ellen's memory to the Young Memorial Church or to a charity of their choosing. Events Funeral Service Saturday, June 6, 2015 1:30PM Young Memorial ARP Church 508 Boulevard Anderson, SC 29621 Phone: 864-226-2484 Final Resting Place Forest Lawn Memorial Park 2609 U. S. Highway 29 North Anderson , SC 29621