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Jane Blair Evans Vilas
Feb 20, 1924 May 11, 2014
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Jane Blair Vilas was born on February 20, 1924 in San Francisco, CA. Jane lived in Patterson for 40 years prior to her living in Turlock for the last 33 years. 

She was a homemaker and the majority owner of Evans Companies and Funeral Homes. Jane’s passions and activities were many and varied. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church of Turlock. Jane loved playing bridge, golf, and traveled extensively. 

Jane was well known for her tireless volunteer and philanthropic activities in Turlock, Modesto and Patterson; including her work as a Girl Scout leader and Del Puerto Hospital Auxiliary. She volunteered at the Emmanuel Medical Center as a “Pink Lady”, the Off Center Street Thrift and Gift Shop, the Gallo Performing Arts and Turlock Community Centers. Jane is a longstanding member of PEO, served as a founding member of the Turlock Salvation Army Advisory Committee and loved her time serving as a board member of the CSUS Foundation CSUS for more than 40 years. She was a founding member of the Emmanuel Medical Center Legacy Circle. 

One of her passions was providing scholarships for area students either privately or through the MJC and the CSUS Foundations. She also received many awards including the Primeshine Excellence in Business Award, the state wide award for the Senate District Women of the Year and recently received the Stanislaus County’s Philanthropy Association’s Philanthropist of the Year Award. 

Jane was preceded in death by her first husband John Evans of 25 years, her second husband Homer Vilas of 22 years, her parents Ben Franklin Blair and Marian Blair, and siblings Ben and Bill Blair. 

She leaves behind her children John Evans (Wendy) of Modesto, Danna Holmes (Dan) of Merced, Cindy Evans of Fullerton, Steve (Arlene) Vilas, and Jan (Michael) Conway. As well as her grandchildren John Evans IV CO, Lindsey (Joey) Martins of San Jose, Doug (Kim) Vilas of Ceres, Lisa (Paul) Willming of Ceres, Rod (Carrie) Vilas of Turlock, Danielle Russell, and her 11 great grandchildren. 

Services have been entrusted to Franklin and Downs Funeral Homes with a Private Visitation from 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. with the public Visitation starting  at 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m on Thursday May 15, 2014. The Funeral Service is to be held on Friday May 16, 2014 at Crosspoint Church in Modesto at 10:00a.m. with the reception to follow at the Gallo Performing Arts Center from 12:00p.m. to 2:00p.m.. Jane’s Final resting place will be a private internment on Saturday May 17, 2014 at Patterson District Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers please send any donations to the Salvation Army, MJC Foundation and the CSUS Foundation.