Evelyn Juanita (Austin) Hendrix

Evelyn Juanita Austin Hendrix, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away on Saturday, November 30, 2024. She was born on November 7, 1936 to Floyd Jesse Austin and Nannie Mae Winder Austin.

The oldest of six children, Evelyn was born on a farm outside of Nacogdoches and helped raise her five younger brothers and sisters. Evelyn, who was “Momma” to her children and “Grandma Evelyn” to her five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, was loving and loyal to her family and gave her best in everything she did. She worked hard all her life, from her childhood on the farm to working at the lunch counter at Striplings Drug Store in Nacogdoches, and later as the editor-in-chief of the “Pine Log” newspaper at Stephen F. Austin University.

In 1958, she married fellow SFA student and Houston native Van Hendrix. When Van graduated, the young couple moved to Houston to raise their children while Evelyn continued her career teaching middle schoolers English and Spanish. She found time to be a dedicated Camp Fire Girl leader and Boy Scout Den Mother for her children. She also worked at various times as a jewelry artist, as an art gallery employee, and as a paralegal for her husband. Evelyn retired from teaching in 2003 to focus on her loves of sewing, quilting, reading, beading and being a grandmother. She was an excellent cook and baker, and we will miss her pecan tassies, her Thanksgiving dressing, and most of all her toffee (Yum!). Thank you, Momma!

Evelyn is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Van, and by her grateful children, Patti McCutchan and Brian Hendrix, as well as daughter-in-law Hilda Macias Hendrix. Also mourning Evelyn’s loss are grandchildren Addison Brown, Avery Taylor, Melissa McCutchan, Caitlin Hinton and Ethan Hendrix. She was also blessed with great-grandchildren Cameron Brown, Isla Taylor, Colton Brown, Margot Taylor, Camille Brown and Beatrice Hinton. Evelyn is also survived by her brother Jesse Austin and his wife Linda, brother Mac Austin, Sr., sister Betty Austin Wicker and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Glen and Steve Austin, and by her mother-in-law Sallye Saxon Gibson, all of whom she adored.

Visitation with be held at 10 am on Friday, December 6, 2024, followed by a memorial of Evelyn’s life at 11 am at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Home (5400 North Street, Nacogdoches). A luncheon in honor of Evelyn will follow at 1:00 pm at the Fredonia Hotel (200 North Fredonia).

Funeral services will be provided by Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, 936-564-7333