VELYN STANALAND

Lufkin resident

Evelyn Elease Brookshire Stanaland, 85, of Lufkin, died Monday, March 5, 2007, in Sweetwater, Tennessee. She was married for 61 years to Irving D. “Stan” Stanaland, also of Lufkin. Mr. Stanaland died in Lufkin on February 15, 2001.

Mrs. Stanaland was the daughter of James Franklin and Dana Evelyn (Brock) Brookshire of Lufkin.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Brock and Linda Stanaland of Jupiter, Florida, and Scott and Audrey of Loudon, Tennessee. She also leaves two grandsons who live in New Jersey, David and Eric, both sons of Scott and Audrey, and great granddaughter, Sarah, daughter of David and Kristl.

Evelyn and Stan were married in 1940 and moved from place to place throughout the South during Word War II, when Stan was working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 1948, Stan went to Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, as an engineer with Arabian American Oil Company, and Evelyn followed in 1951. They lived in Saudi Arabia for 29 years. They also spent three years in Aruba with Lago Oil & Refining Company, and lived five years in Houston while Stan was on assignment with Aramco Services Company, a Saudi Arabian Oil subsidiary. While overseas, the Stanalands traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Mrs. Stanaland was a talented pianist who, even at an early age, played for church services and touring gospel groups in East Texas. Over the years, she often played for the Keltys United Methodist Church; and while moving around the South during the 40s, often played the piano for a local church's services. She also served as church pianist while living overseas, and until her death, played for services at her assisted living facility in Sweetwater, Tennessee, where she has been living for the past five years. Mrs. Stanaland was a member of Keltys United Methodist Church all her life.

Services for Mrs. Stanaland were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 11, 2007, in the Elwyn M. Gipson Memorial Chapel in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park. The Reverend Jacquelyn Harmon Snarr, pastor of Keltys United Methodist Church, officiated. Interment followed in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park. Gipson Funeral Home; Charles R. Ervin, director, was in charge of arrangements.