Evelyn E. Brookshire Stanaland Passes Away
Evelyn E. Brookshire Stanaland
March 4, 1922 - March 5, 2007
Evelyn Elese Brookshire Stanaland, 85, of Lufkin, died March 5, 2007 in Sweetwater, Tennessee. She was married 61 years to Irving D. "Stan" Stanaland, also of Lufkin. Mr. Stanaland died in Lufkin February 15, 2001.
Mrs. Stanaland was the daughter of James Franklin and Dana Evelyn (Brock) Brookshire of Lufkin. She is survived by two sons, Brock and wife Linda of Jupiter, FL, and Scott and wife Audrey of Loudon, TN. Mrs. Stanaland also leaves two grandsons who live in New Jersey-David (age 40) and Eric (age 36), both sons of Scott and Audrey, and a great-granddaughter, Sarah, daughter of David and Kristl.
Evelyn and Stan married in 1940 and moved from place to place throughout the South during WWII when Stan was working for the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. In 1948, Stan went to Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia as an engineer with Arabian American Oil Company and Evelyn followed in 1951. They lived in Saudi Arabia for 29 years.
They also spent three years in Aruba with Lago Oil & Refining Company and lived five years in Houston while Stan was on assignment with Aramco Services Company, a Saudi Arabian Oil subsidiary. While overseas, the Stanalands traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Mrs. Stanaland was a talented pianist who, even at an early age, played for church services and touring gospel groups in East Texas. Over the years she often played for the Keltys Methodist Church and while moving around the South during the 40s, often played the piano for a local church's services. She also served as church pianist while living overseas, and until her death, played for church services at her assisted living facility in Sweetwater TN, where she has been living for the past five years.
Mrs. Stanaland was a member of Keltys United Methodist Church all her life.
Visitation with the family will be Saturday March 10, 4 to 7 pm at Gipson-Metcalf Funeral Home. Services will be held Sunday March 11, at 2 pm in Gipson-Metcalf Chapel. Burial will be at Garden of Memories. Gipson-Metcalf Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
As an option to flowers, Mrs. Stanaland's family suggests donations be made in her memory to the Keltys United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 591, Lufkin, TX 75904.