Jack Elam, 105, of Evant died on June 28, 2022.
Funeral services were held July 6 at the First United Methodist Church of Evant, with the Rev. Bob Weathers officiating.
Interment followed at Murphree Cemetery in Evant. Scott’s Funeral Home in Gatesville had charge of arrangements.
Charles Lloyd “Jack” Elam was born Jan. 22, 1917 in Pearl to the late Charley and Henrietta Edmondson Elam. He graduated from Pearl High School in 1936 and later attended 4-C Business College in Waco.
Jack married Catherine Austin on Sept. 24, 1938.
He worked on highway construction as a dump truck driver and shovel operator until 1941, when they moved to Evant and purchased as well as operated the cotton gin.
On Feb. 22, 1944, Jack was inducted into the Army, serving in World War II as a corporal with the 10th Mountain Division, 86th Regiment, Company D. He received the Bronze Star for his actions in Apinninas and Po River Valley in Italy.
After his military service, Jack owned and operated Evant Feed Mill and Evant Water Works. At the same time, he had an egg farm with 50,000 chickens and operated feed lots with the capacity of 200 cattle.
In 1963, he bought stock in the First National Bank in Evant. He worked there in several capacities with his wife, Catherine. He served as chairman of the board and president of the bank, until his retirement in 1986.
He served as chairman of the Housing Authority Board in Evant, where he made it possible to provide 10 government housing units in 1970 and 1971.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Evant, and a former member of the Lions Club and other civic committees. He had been a member of the Bee House Masonic Lodge #550 A.F. & A.M in Evant since 1943 and Waco Karem Shrine since 1963. He was also a former member of the Texas Bankers Association.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine; son, Charles Austin Elam; sister, Mildred Elam Manning; and a grandson, Chris Elam Comer.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Kay Comer of Evant; grandson Charles and wife, Krissy; greatgrandchildren Charlie, Caroline and Cort; and a nephew, Curtis Manning, and wife, Joyce. Memorials have been designated to his grandson’s scholarship fund, Chris Elam Comer Scholarship Trust, P.O. Box 306, Evant, TX 76525.
