Our Staff

Calvin Evans

General Manager of Cottle & Cottle-Pearson Funeral Director & Embalmer

Calvin was raised in the piney woods of East Texas in San Augustine. His family was in the logging industry as well as farmers. He was one of six children and were raised in a very Christian oriented family. Calvin began his funeral service career in San Augustine at the Wyman Roberts Funeral Home as a part time employee in the summer of 1976. In 1987 he enrolled at Commonwealth Mortuary School in Houston. While attending school, Calvin worked at Earthman Funeral Home. After graduating from Mortuary School he moved to Nacogdoches and worked for Laird Funeral Home, then at the Cason Monk Funeral Home. In 2007 he moved to Temple and went to work for Harper-Talasek Funeral Home. In 2013 Calvin moved to Troup, Texas to become the general manager of Cottle Funeral Home, and the Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home in Overton, Texas.

Calvin is married to Heather Evans, a school teacher in Tyler. He has one daughter, a step-daughter, two step-sons, five grandchildren and two sisters.

Calvin said, "Even though he has seen a lot of changes in the funeral profession over the years, it still evident to me that you have to be compassionate, caring, honest and dedicated", in order to be successful in anything you do! 

Telephone: 1-903-842-3131

Melissa Harris

Funeral Home Administrator

Melissa has recently worked for Cottle Funeral homes for 15 years. She is compassionate about her job and loves helping others.  She has three children, a granddaughter and is a member of the Liberty City Assembly of God Church, where she plays the piano and leads praise and worship. Melissa is married to Paul Harris, they live in Troup.

Ronald Helm

Manager of Cottle-Pearson of Overton, Funeral Director / Embalmer

Ron is the newest addition to the staff of Cottle & Cottle Pearson. Ron graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science Online Program. He is a retired military veteran with 25 years of service to our country. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with "Valor" for actions taken against the enemy forces in Iraq, along with other distinguished awards for multiple deployments throughout his career. Ron served in three combat deployments and one peace keeping mission.

Ron is married to Laura (Willis) Helm. She is a native of Texas and Principal of Chapel Hill High School. They also have four nieces and one nephew in the area.

Telephone: 1-903-842-3131

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