Erika Caroline Walker Evans
May 10, 1996 ~ September 23, 2022
On Friday, September 23, 2022, another angelic voice was added to the Heavenly Choir.
Taken from this Earth way too soon, Erika Caroline Walker Evans, 26, was a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, niece and friend to many. Erika was a radiant, up-and-coming singer/songwriter with a heavenly voice and a beautiful soul.
She is survived by her parents Brigette Walker Martin (Kenneth B. 'Tad' Martin) of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Paul F. Evans (Christine) of Austin, Texas; Her brother, Joseph Barrett ‘Rett’ Evans, II of Scottsdale, Arizona; Half sister, Kate Evans of Austin, Texas; step sisters, Emily Elizabeth Martin and Caroline Elizabeth Martin, DVM of Lake Charles; step brother Erik Ouellette of Wiesbaden, Germany. Aunts and uncles: Cheryl Walker Bullen and Michael G.Bullen, MD (Rockport, Tx), Margherita and Don Pryor (Providence, RI), Don Evans and Dr. Sally Bloom-Feshbach (Washington DC), Carla O’Rourke and Jim O’Rourke (Newport, RI); Steven J. Evans( McAllen, Tx); Numerous cousins, especially Eric Bullen, and Leigh ‘Leelee’ Bullen of Corpus Christi, with whom she was close.
Erika was predeceased by her grandparents, William Carroll Walker, Jr and Cecilia Y. Walker of Tilden, Texas; Guida A Evans-Magher and Robert Magher of Washington, D.C.; and Joseph Barrett Evans,(Kansas City, Missouri).
Erika lived her life in pursuit of creating beauty in the world and was multi-talented in music, poetry, and painting.
Very much a free spirit with a kind and open heart, Erika lived more life in her 26 years than most people experience in a lifetime. She was well-traveled, having spent time in Italy and Germany. After graduating from the University of Texas in Austin, with a BA in Psychology, Erika traversed the United States and during her travels she enjoyed performing. She loved singing and playing guitar as well as sharing her poetry with others. A gifted singer, Erika performed in a band called The Halfways during her college years. This past Spring Break she was a solo headliner at an iconic venue in Port Aransas, TX. After college, and as a resident of Austin, Texas. Erika pursued freelance writing and published a culinary tourism guide called Eat Like a Local- Austin: Austin Texas Food Guide.
Erika was born on May 10,1996 in Austin, Texas. She attended Hill Elementary School, and The Cathedral of St. Mary, Austin, TX. She moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana with her family in 2007 and attended Episcopal Day School and Barbe High school where she was in the Gifted Program and was cast in a singing role as the WW2 nurse in the Barbe High School production of South Pacific. Erika attended the University of Texas-Austin and graduated in May 2018.
Erika made her debut for the Krewe of Contraband during the Mardi Gras festivities in Lake Charles in February of 2017.
Her family and friends will always remember her easy going and sweet demeanor, big smile, whimsical nature and her endearing laugh. Erika was pure of heart and saw the best in everyone. She thought she could save others through acts of kindness and love, yet this ultimately ended in her brutal murder by a gunshot. The senseless violence took her precious life.
”Whoever you hold in the heart of you, is forever and always a part of you.” Rossiter Raymond
AUSTIN, TX.
A Candlelight Vigil will be held in Erika’s honor on October 1, 2022 between the hours of 4:00 - 9:00 pm at her spot outside Guero’s Taco Bar on SoCo.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday October 20, 2022, at 10:00 AM in The Smith Family Chapel and Remembrance Gardens at Riverbend, 4214 Capitol of TX Hwy, Austin, Texas 78746.
Funeral Services: Lake Charles
Services will be held at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Lake Charles, LA
Visitation: Hardtner Hall, Friday, October 7, 2022 from 5 - 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Funeral Service: Sanctuary. 3:00 pm
Reception will be held after the Service in Hardtner Hall
Interment: Hill Top Cemetery, Tilden, TX following a funeral Mass at
St. Joseph’s Mission Church. Details TBA
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the following charities:
-SAFE whose mission is to Stop Abuse for Everyone in Austin, Texas. Donations may be made in memory of Erika Evans at safeaustin.org/donate
-The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Building Fund Lake Charles, LA
-Oasis - The Calcasieu Women’s Shelter in Lake Charles, LA
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we – we are silly pilgrims in
this era
designating no longer – bathroom doors
with those caricatured placemarkers
leaving
room for placeholders to spell
out new noms
for our newly more brightly
colored plumes
This situation is undoubtedly
no vel-
at least here, in this
linoleum midwest cafeteria
in this south austin cafe
and our
phrasing – quaint and courteous
may shutter and grovel for words at first
we are like orchids
learning to walk
I just found out about this and am a little devastated. My name is Chad Lanfer. Erika was my first kiss at Hill elementary and I was hers. We were both in Mrs. Allen’s kindergarten class. She was my first love as a kiddo and brought me so much joy until she moved. She was such a treasure and she comes to mind very often when I meet with my family. We were talking about her at dinner for my mothers birthday and I went to message her.
It’s with heavy heart to know she is gone. I talked to her a few years back and wish I could’ve seen her.
I would love to see her mother and/or brother if you’re here in Austin.
I’ll figure out a way to get ahold of y’all.
I have so much love for your family.
Chad Lanfer
512-364-4042