Evan Lee Cherry

Evan Lee Cherry, 95, entered the gates of heaven on Sunday, February 19, 2023.  He was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on January 21, 1928, to Evan Isaac and Alpha Omega Marie (Wilson) Cherry.  Evan spent his younger years in both Seminole and Tuttle, Oklahoma.

Evan married Virginia Faye Belveal on June 27, 1948.  At the time of his beloved wife, Virginia’s passing, they were married 58 years and had 3 children:  Penny Faye (Cherry) Phariss, Jeffrey Lee Cherry and Bobbi Jo Cherry.

During his life, Evan was both a well-known and highly respected bookkeeper and a CPA.  He spent the first 27 years working as a bookkeeper for Mr. J.L. Fife.  In 1977, he obtained his CPA license and became a partner in a CPA firm in Oklahoma City.  Within a few years, he was able to open his own CPA firm in Edmond, where he stayed for over 20 years.  Just before he retired, he worked with Hale & Co. in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Evan was a well-known member of both the First United Methodist Church in Moore and in Edmond.  Anyone who knew Evan knew he loved to sing.  When he was not in his business suit, he always had on his beloved cap that said “sing with Evan”.  He was often asked to sing at weddings, funerals and always in church services.  He would get his haircuts for free if he sang a couple of hymns. He was also active in the United Methodist Men, teaching Sunday School, Kiwanis and the Oklahoma Society of CPAs for many years.

Evan was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Cherry.  He is survived by his children, Penny Phariss and her husband, Chuck Phariss, Jeff Cherry and Bobbi Jo Cherry and her husband, Jack Vig, six grandchildren, Mark, Collier, Rachael, Kayla, Matthew and Sarah.  He has 8 great-grandchildren, Ingrid, Linnea, Leon, Ellie, Norah, Caroline, Maybri and Langston.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Meals on Wheels Collier County, 600 N Tennessee St, McKinney TX 75069, or visit www.mealsonwheelscc.org/donate.

Funeral Services are to be held at 2:00pm on March 9, 2023, at Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.