Evelyn Brandin

Evelyn Brandin, of Port Neches, Texas, passed away unexpectedly on December 7, 2025, at the age of 80 in Port Arthur, Texas. She was born on January 15, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois.

She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Gary Brandin of Port Neches, TX; her children Rebecca Green and husband, Michael, of Monroe, WA; and William Brandin and wife, Leah, of Bridge City, TX; her brothers, John Hearn of Conroe, TX, and Billy Charron of Corpus Christi, TX. Evelyn is survived by her grandchildren: Chelsea, Mariya, Krystle, Allyssa, George, and Jacob; and her beloved great grandchildren.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Gladys and James Wilkins, and her sisters Delores, Darlene, and Arlene.

Evelyn grew up in Corpus Christi, where she learned the values of hard work and family from an early age. During junior high, she stepped away from school to work alongside her father in the family business. In the 1960s, Evelyn moved to Port Neches to live with her sister. It was there that she met her husband, Gary, who had recently returned from military service. Together, they built a loving home and raised two children, creating a family grounded in love, support, and shared values. She had a passion for crafting and sewing, often creating beautiful embroidered designs on her children’s clothing that became treasured keepsakes. Her love for art led her to enrolling in art school. She devoted many years to caring for others, first through her work in the church nursery and later as a clerk at Smith Drug Store. Here she became a familiar and friendly presence for 20 years until the store closed. Despite leaving school at a young age, she remained determined to further her education and proudly earned her GED in 1988, after her children had graduated from high school—a testament to her perseverance and dedication to growth. She was a talented cook who loved being in the kitchen. Her homemade dumplings and icebox lemon pie were legendary among family and friends, always in high demand at gatherings.

Later in life, she taught herself to play the dulcimer and joined a local dulcimer group, sharing her music through performances at nursing homes and community events. Whether through food, art, music, or service, she brought warmth, creativity, and joy to everyone around her, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm on January 17th at Faith Methodist Church in Orange. 8608 MLK Jr Drive, Orange, TX.

In lieu of flowers, Evelyn’s family asks that donations be made in her memory to Faith Methodist Church in Orange, TX, by mail to PO Box 494 Orange, Tx 77631 or online at https://www.faithorange.org/donate