William Houston Evans

William Houston Evans, 81, of Eustis, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Born in Augusta, Georgia, he met his wife Helen on the beach in St. Thomas, USVI in 1958. After marrying, they moved to the island in 1960 where they raised their children and Bill enjoyed a successful career in Real Estate Development and Hotel Operations. He was instrumental in the founding and establishment of the St. Thomas Yacht Club, the first Montessori School in the US Virgin Islands and the first Virgin Islands Junior Tennis Program. He delighted in the Caribbean lifestyle spending much of his time boating, scuba diving, and playing tennis. After a brief residence in Hilton Head Island, SC, he and Helen moved to the Wood River Valley, Idaho in 1978 where he enjoyed a western lifestyle on their beloved ranchette, Rancho de Montaña. In addition to riding their treasured Peruvian horses in the mountains and fishing the wild river, Bill was passionate about planting trees and nurturing his prolific flower and vegetable gardens. To be closer to their children and grandchildren Bill and Helen moved to Eustis, FL in 2008 where he resided until his death. He was a man of vision, passion, and integrity and was highly respected by all who knew him for his fairness, caring and loyalty. Most of all, he was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. William is survived by his 2 sons, William Lee Edwards, Douglasville, GA, W. Houston Evans, II, Eustis, FL; daughter, Tara Walker Evans Shimberg, Washington, DC; niece, Tracy Leigh Evans, Louisville, KY; 5 grandchildren, Charles Blake Edwards, James Devon Edwards, Ethan Briggs Shimberg, Ms. Hunter Leigh Evans, Logan Elias Shimberg; 3 great-grandchildren, Michael Lee Edwards, Kinsley Lane Edwards & James Landon Edwards. The family will receive friends at the Harden/Pauli Funeral Home Chapel, Eustis on Monday, June 22, 2015 from 3:00 till 5:00 PM. Memorial donations may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL or to the Humane Society of Lake County, 16435 McKinley Road, Umatilla, FL 32784. Online Guestbook available at www.hardenpauli.com Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis.