Thomas Rice Evans, Jr., age 98 years, of Franklin Township, NJ, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2021, surrounded by his loved ones.

Born in Rahway, NJ, April 5, 1923, son of the late Thomas Rice, Sr. and Bessie Conger Evans, Tom lived on his sixty acre family farm on Lake Avenue, Clark, NJ which his father purchased many years earlier. Tom spent his youth helping the family work the farm. He cared for many farm animals such as cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, and guinea hens. He also helped with the planting of many types of crops.

After completing high school, Tom went on to earn his degree in Civil Engineering from Ohio Northern University in 1943-1945. Tom served in the Army between 1945-1948. During WWII, he was stationed in California. When he returned home from his service, he worked with his father in construction, building many homes and local businesses. Tom would marry his beloved Margie (Thompson) Evans in 1952.

In 1958-1960 Tom additionally earned his Building Construction Degree at the University of Florida. Shortly thereafter, Tom and his wife purchased a new farm in Franklin Township, NJ, which they named Evans Farm.

After one year of improving the buildings and renovating the house, Tom’s mother, Bessie, and his wife Margie joined him where they all spent many years together until his mother’s passing. Tom continued farming the land until his recent death. Early in Evans’ Farm history, Tom raised Angus cattle. As  time went on he decided to grow and sell vegetables. Julio Aliva worked along with Tom helping plant many different types of vegetables. Tom was known for his delicious tomatoes among other prize vegetables. Evans’ farm also produced soybeans, hay, oats, and wheat. Julio Aliva worked alongside Tom until 2020 when Tom decided to retire from farming.

Tom also served on the Board of Directors at the Rahway Savings Institution. Tom additionally served his community as trustee of the Board of Directors of the Hazel Wood Cemetery, Colonia, NJ from 1970 until his death.

In addition to his parents, Tom is preceded in death by his sister, Elinor Evans Morecraft.

Surviving are two nieces, Meg Kinney Fitzgerald and Karyn Kinney; four nephews, William, Ken, and Scott Kinney and Pete Warchol; many dear friends; and his cats which he loved dearly.

Thomas will lie in repose on Thursday, November 11, 2021 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A Life Celebration Service will be concelebrated by Rev. E. Joan Palmer & Rev. David Errickson at Quakertown United Methodist Church, 1187 Croton Road, Flemington, NJ on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. and to which all are welcome.

Following the service, everyone is invited to accompany the family to Hazel Wood Cemetery, 64 Lake Avenue, Colonia, NJ, where Tom will be laid to rest in his family plot. A committal service will be held at the Vander Hoven Chapel within the cemetery to which all are welcome.

You are encouraged to visit Tom’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”