Evelyn Joyce Raiford

Evelyn Joyce Bland Raiford, 90, of Sour Lake, Texas passed away Saturday, August 1, 2015 at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont, Texas. Evelyn was born September 28, 1924 in Orange, Texas to Jasper Monroe Bland and Alta Smith Bland. She was a lifelong area resident and member of First United Methodist Church of Port Neches. She graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School and was named Class Queen in 1941. Evelyn was a former teacher and retired librarian from Sour Lake Elementary School. Survivor include her four sons, Dalton Raiford and wife Terri of Ashville, NC, Donald Raiford and wife Judy of Longview, TX, Daniel Raiford and wife Bettie of Carrollton, TX, Dee Raiford and wife Dorothea of Sour Lake, TX; sisters, Janearle Turner and Pollie Bland both of Port Neches, TX; brother, James Bland and wife Gail of Dallas, TX; ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at Levingston Funeral Home in Port Neches, Texas. Burial will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday evening from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.