Joel (Jody) Robert Evans, 66, passed away on October 27, 2024, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma surrounded by his loving family. A celebration of his life will be 1:00-3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 17, 2024 at the Vasser Community Center in Perkins.

Joel was born July 23, 1958 in Stillwater, Oklahoma the son of Robert Lloyd and Yvonne Marie (Lacy) Evans.

Joel attended school at Seiling, Perkins, and Barnsdall, Oklahoma, graduating from Barnsdall High School in 1976. He continued his education at Claremore Jr. College and began working at Boulder Bank in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He then moved to Okmulgee and was the assistant cashier at the First National Bank for a number of years. He then started a new career in the trucking industry that spanned 35 years retiring last year from Shepherd Oil.

He enjoyed Motorsports as a driver in autocross and road racing at Hallett. He had season tickets at the Indy 500 for many years. He always looked forward to traveling with family to Colorado and riding ATVs in the mountains. He loved to cook, especially grilled and smoked meats. He later became a BBQ and steak judge and enjoyed the friends he met over the years traveling the region for those events. He loved music and played the trombone for several years as a member of the Barnsdall Marching Band. He was honored to be selected as the drum major. Most importantly, he loved his family, his nieces and nephews.

Joel is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Lacy and James Patrick of Perkins, Ok, and his brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd and Kenna Evans of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Nieces and nephews, James and Yvonne Patrick, Danielle and Heath Maddox, Will Evans, Anna Kate Evans, Kassidy Whelpley, and Kennedy Whelpley. Great-nephews Aidan Griggs, Killian, and Connor Maddox, great-niece, Jasmine Medeiros, and great-great-niece Gwyn Pelka; as well as aunts, uncle, cousins, and many friends and acquaintances.