KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Before following the call of duty, a 23-year-old service member who died near Ft. Wainwright in Alaska played the tuba for Gibbs' band.
SPC Jeremy Daniel Evans was killed in a car wreck at the Alaskan military base. He graduated from Gibbs High School in 2019 and for all four years he attended the school, he was in the marching band.
"There's a lot of really hard work that goes into that stuff. And Jeremy was a really hard worker," said Jonathan Humber, Jeremy's former band director. "He was always a really engaged student, he always wanted to do his best job."
Humber said he saw Jeremy grow up before his eyes, from a shy freshman to a senior with direction.
"As he progressed and matured, he got, of course, better at tuba and he was more engaged in leadership with the band," said Humber. "His grandparents, Candace and Bob, were very involved in helping out with the band and his mom when she could around her work schedule. And, that whole family was just very, very helpful."
Humber said Jeremy met his wife during band practice. Her name is Sloane, and they both grew up in Corryon and marched in the high school band. Before going to Alaska, Jeremy served in Korea and wrote letters home detailing the area and his experiences there.
Humber said it was no surprise that he joined the Army in July 2020 because he was a natural helper.
"Whether it be loading the trailer or making sure his instrument was taken care of, or helping the freshmen learn what they needed to do, he was always engaged with that kind of work," said Humber. "When I found that he had decided to do that. You know, service was kind of in his blood."
A celebration of life Sunday will be held at Clear Springs Baptist Church, located at 7350 Tazewell Pike, in Corryton. Family members will receive friends starting at 2 p.m. before the ceremony starts at 4 p.m. On Monday, there will be a committal service at the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on John Sevier Highway.
Sloane is also asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Jeremy's honor to the Gibbs High School Marching Band.
"There are several teachers, you know, that have the same memories and thinking the same thoughts and appreciation for Jeremy today," said Humber.