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Entergy Lineman Bryan Evans Honors Wife's Legacy Through Education Fund
12/10/2015
Entergy Serviceman Bryan Evans and his wife Cheryl were high school sweethearts. Married in 1990, Bryan purchased 60 acres in rural White County where he and Cheryl would raise their daughter Megan. Known for her raven curls and electric smile, Cheryl never met a stranger, a skill that served her well in her jobs as the White County Deputy Assessor and later the County Clerk. Bryan and Cheryl enjoyed a quiet life raising their daughter along with a few animals on their farm. But, for this young couple, their content country setting would be short-lived.
In December 2013, Cheryl discovered a small wart-like lump on her tongue. Following a procedure to remove and test the mass, Cheryl was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, or SCC. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, SCC is the second-most common form of skin cancer, occurring in about 700,000 cases each year in the United States. After a series of radiation and chemotherapy treatments in early 2014, doctors delivered the news that Cheryl was in recovery. The Evans family was beginning to put Cheryl's health crisis behind them when a sudden illness on Memorial Day landed Cheryl back in the hospital.
"As soon as the Doctor's looked her over, they knew the cancer had come back with a vengeance," remembers Bryan.
Doctors told Bryan and Cheryl that the cancer had spread and time would be limited. Blindsided by this latest development, the Evans family struggled to grasp reality "I thought we were looking at months, not days." After 11 days in the hospital, Cheryl was sent home to undergo chemotherapy. Still somewhat lost and afraid, Cheryl and the rest of the family began making plans while holding to their faith that Cheryl would pull through. Many in their community poured their love and support over the family, just as Cheryl had done for so many others.
During the Fourth of July weekend, Bryan and Meghan rushed Cheryl to the emergency room. "The doctors cautioned me that she wouldn't make it through the night, but our anniversary was in just a few days, and I was convinced she was hanging on until then." Family and friends held virtual prayer vigils whispering requests for a miracle.
Just as Bryan predicted, Cheryl took her final breaths on their 24th wedding anniversary.
In the months that followed, Cheryl's absence and the weight of the previous months began to take its toll on Bryan and Megan, 25, a Radiation Therapist.
"It was devastating. For months, I didn't know which end was up. It was really my daughter who kept me going."
Bryan's fellow Entergy serviceman Caleb Cooley was touched by his coworker's struggle and wanted to help. With support from the Searcy network office, Cooley put together a charity softball tournament in August to raise funds to help pay some of the family's expenses. But Bryan had other plans.
"Cheryl was my world and brought so much joy to others, especially kids. I wanted to use that money to pay it forward in her memory."
Since the Bald Knob High School had been the place where he and Cheryl shared so many good memories, Bryan established the Cheryl Evans Memorial Scholarship fund. Administered by the Bald Knob Public Education Foundation, the fund provides college scholarships to qualifying Bald Knob High School students. Entergy Arkansas has also joined Bryan's mission by donating $2,500 to the fund which Bryan plans to match with his own donation.
Although the fund has already helped sponsor several local students, Bryan hopes to raise enough money to reach the $25,000 endowment threshold.
"I am so grateful to my family, my community and my Entergy family for seeing to it that Cheryl's legacy continues to live on for future generations. She would be so pleased to see how everyone has rallied behind my family. We continue to take it day-by-day, but we know that we are truly blessed."
Tax-deductible donations for scholarships can be made through the Bald Knob Public Education Foundation. Checks should be made out to Cheryl Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Bald Knob School, 103 West Park St., Bald Knob, AR 72010.
