Judy Evans

On October 31st, 2018, Judy Evans of Gazelle, Ca passed away. Judy was born as Alice Jean Pack in San Diego, Ca on March 30th, 1943 to Betty Jean Forsburg and Millard Francis Pack. She was fond of saying that her grandma had taken one look at her and decided she was a Judy and not an Alice, comparing her to her favorite horse, she was called Judy thereafter. Judy grew up in the San Diego area and had five siblings, she would fondly (or not so fondly) recall her days clamming at the beach, learning how to shoot, and her first muscle car. It is so very hard to reduce the lifetime of an amazing woman to a few short paragraphs. Judy Evans was a strong woman with a past of sharp shooting, motorcycle racing, and automotive wrenching in a time when it was unbecoming of a woman to do those things. She married young (17) to Richard Armstrong and soon after her only child Jerry Armstrong was born in 1960, marriage did not agree with the strong-willed Judy who did not fit into the traditional female role and the couple soon divorced leaving Judy as the single mother of a young son. Judy was never one to give up though and continued to grow and thrive, sometimes working up to three jobs at a time to provide for her and her child. She met Robert Evans, an ex-cop turned contractor, in Spring Valley while working in a tire store. It was not love at first sight as he found excuses to return and purchase items as she kept rejecting him. Finally, his persistence was successful and the two were married on August 31st, 1973. Judy and her husband Bob enjoyed their life in their home in Spring Valley, were avidly involved in a rock and gem club in El Cajon, and were fond of dancing. In 1979, Bob found an opportunity in contracting in Lake Shastina and moved to Northern California followed by Judy the following year where Judy promptly fell in love with Mt. Shasta. While Bob was building homes, Judy fulfilled a life-long dream and started her own business, the Evans Inn opened in downtown Weed. Judy loved her restaurant, but financial difficulties ended her three-year run at that location, luckily another opportunity arose, and Judy was offered another chance at her restaurant. Porky Bob’s opened off the I-5 corridor near the Weed Airport exit in 1983. Though rough at first the restaurant gained momentum and became a favorite spot for locals and is still remembered fondly by many. Judy ran Porky Bob’s for 20 years before deciding to retire. Over the course of her arrival in Siskiyou County, she and her husband became integral parts of the community. Following the close of Porky Bob’s she found retirement to be lacking in stimulation and took up a part time job with Mt. Silverado Inc, clerking at the central Weed and Mt. Shasta Shell stations and found herself volunteering in support of the Gazelle Fire Department Auxiliary until fully committing to retirement at her home that faced a glorious view of the mountain she loved so much. Judy loved to travel and enjoyed new experiences, she and her husband took a cross country trip to New Jersey to see loved ones, making memories along the way by stopping in various state parks, visiting the Grand Canyon, and seeing the Statue of Liberty. In late December of 2015 she lost the love of her life to a long illness. They had been married 42 years. Judy then battled her own illness and overcame Cancer. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday; every year she made a huge dinner inviting all of her friends and family. Her home was open to anyone who wished to share a good meal, good conversation, and hot coffee. While Porky Bob’s was open she welcomed truck-drivers, officers, and travelers off the road to join in the family festivities. She never turned anyone away on a holiday as she believed that everyone deserved to be included in a family celebration on such an important holiday, and for that time she made sure that anyone who was included felt like family. Judy was an amazing woman who always welcomed anyone to her home, ready to feed anyone who walked in. She was a surrogate mother to her grandchildren and they all knew they were always welcome in her home and she would always have time for them. Her friendships ran deep, more family than friends. She will be missed by all who knew her and all she touched. Judy was pre-deceased by her husband Robert G Evans in 2015 and her sister Patricia Ronshausen. She is survived by her siblings; Ellen Manti, Darrell Ronshausen, Leonard Pack, and Virginia Gardner, son Jerry W Armstrong of Redding, her step-daughter Denise Muntz of New Jersey, grandchildren Elizabeth Armstrong of Yreka, Alisha Parham of Weed, David Armstrong of Gazelle, Amanda Armstrong of Yreka, Emma Armstrong of Yreka, Kristy Muntz-Coulbourn of New Jersey, Tabitha Etayum of New Jersey, Tammy Muntz-White of New Jersey and various other grandchildren and great grandchildren. A celebration of life is planned for 2:00 pm, November 20th, 2018 at the Gazelle Grange. It is a potluck event so please bring your favorite dish so that we can celebrate one last family dinner with Judy.

Judy Evans

March 30, 1943 - October 31, 2018