MIDKIFF - Frank Ingram Evridge of Midkiff, died July 21, 2023. He was born Dec. 6, 1944, in Brownwood, to J.B. and Su (Waggoner) Evridge. On Oct. 4, 1969, he married Joyce Schraer in Rowena, and they shared 53 years together. He graduated from Wall High School and headed to Texas Tech University. While at Texas Tech, life intervened, leading to Frank’s service in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War.
Afterward, he returned to Texas Tech, earning a bachelor’s degree in soil science. This interest in science became a lifelong passion for research into a variety of areas, including organic farming, eldarica pines, and cotton root rot. His love for learning and reading continued to his last days. Frank wouldn’t know what “google it” meant, but he knew how to find information from a book.
After graduating from Texas Tech, Frank and Joyce moved to Midkiff, where he began his 50-year farming career. While cotton was his primary crop, his passion for eldarica pines led to Joyce and Frank creating Trees of Royalty, Inc. Their pine trees were sold all over West Texas and as far away as Las Vegas. Later in his farming career, he would travel across the United States to various universities to learn about organic farming techniques, leading to organic farming becoming a part of his farming operation. He was always ready to try new crops and delighted in proving it “could be done.”
His public service included serving as president of the St. Lawrence Cotton Growers Association during the Boll Weevil Eradication Program and as a member of the board of directors of Midkiff Farmers Co-op Gin.
Other public service included serving over 35 years on the board of directors of the Reagan-Upton County Soil Conservation Service.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Joyce of Midkiff; daughter Jodi Evridge of Houston; daughter and sonin- law Jenny and Sam Newland of Katy, and their daughters Lilly and Graceyn; and son and daughter-in-law John and Amanda Evridge of Midkiff, and their children, Macy, Benton and Levi.
He was preceded in death by his parents, J.B. and Su (Waggoner) Evridge; his in-laws,Arnold and Lilly (Schwertner) Schraer; sister and brother-in-law Judy and Michael Schmickle; and sister Amanda Jean Evridge.
Pallbearers were Larry Eads, Jay Marburger, Wesley Schraer, Kyle Schraer, Daniel Lange, and Zack Epperson. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Goebel, Dennis Seidenberger, Roy Hartman, Michael Braden, Shanna Bynum, Tommy Owens, and Mike Schmickle, Jr.
Frank’s rosary was July 26, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. The funeral service was officiated by Father Tom Barley on July 27, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, with the interment following at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery.