Bobby Gene Evans

Bobby Gene Evans, 83, of Jonesboro, formerly of Trumann, passed away from natural causes on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at home. He was born in Trumann on June 14, 1940. 

Raised on a farm in Trumann, by parents Henry and Mary Evans, Bobby began his working career as a soda jerk at Campbell Drug while in high school. It was there he chose his life’s profession of being a pharmacist. After graduation from Trumann High School in 1958, he fulfilled his pre-pharmacy requirements at Arkansas State University, then applied for and was accepted into the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy where he was awarded his Doctorate of Pharmacy in 1964. 

Bobby worked at Priestly Drug in Trumann from 1964 through 1965; from 1965 through 1970 he worked at Central Drug in Jonesboro, and from 1970 through 1974 he worked and owned Priestly Drug in Trumann. After the sale of Priestly Drug he was employed by Douglas Medical Pharmacy in Jonesboro from 1974 through 1978, and in 1978 he opened Plaza Pharmacy in Jonesboro, which he operated until his retirement in 1999. 

During those years, Bobby established the Northeast Arkansas Pharmacy Association, which was a tri-county association dedicated to helping pharmacists obtain continuing education hours required for license renewal annually. Bobby was also on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Pharmacist Association, where he served as President in 1992. He was also a Consultant Pharmacist for the David Puryear Center in Jonesboro, a state supported institution for Downs Syndrome patients, for over 20 years. 

Bobby’s wife, Jean, worked at Arkansas State University for several years while helping with bookkeeping at his pharmacies. He was extremely proud of his daughters, Donna and Beth. Donna is a Pharmacist who worked with her father until his retirement, after which she opened her own pharmacy where Bobby worked part-time. Beth is a registered nurse practitioner who has worked in home health, hospice and nursing homes during her career. 

Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mary Evans. He is survived by his wife of  61 years, Jean Evans of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Kemuel Camp of Jonesboro; daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Matt Cunningham of Jonesboro; grandson, Brenden (Stephanie) Camp of Brookland; grandson, Tyler Womble of Jonesboro; grandson, Braden (Hannah) Camp of Ward; brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Allenna Evans of Nashville, TN; brother-in-law, Gerald Bailey of Trumann. 

Visitation will be Saturday, February 17th, at Stone Ridge Church of Christ, 514 Airport Road in Jonesboro beginning at 12 p.m. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1:30 p.m. with Kemuel Camp of Stone Ridge Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home. Please consider the UAMS Kidney Transplant Clinic for lasting memorials. 

An online register book can be signed at www.thompsonfuneralhome.net.