DALLAS -- One half of the first same sex couple to be married in Dallas died Thursday night, according to a message posted on his church's Facebook page.
Jack Evans died at Baylor Hospital after "battling lung issues for some weeks," according to Northaven United Methodist Church.
Evans and his partner, George Harris, exchanged vows in a commitment ceremony on March 1, 2014, the same week a federal judge struck down the state's law banning same-sex marriage. They later made their union legally binding.
"To see the care that he and George gave to each other, not only on every average day, but also in the quiet of a hospital room, was an inspiration to me on countless occasions," said Northaven United Methodist Pastor Eric Folkerth.
News 8's covered the couple's ceremony in 2014. Their story was picked up around the country.
Their ceremony was performed by Rev. Bill McElvaney, a retired Methodist pastor who risked losing his pension and credentials to perform the service, because the Methodist church did not condone gay marriage.
They said it was a day they thought they would never see.
"Not in a million years," Harris said.
"Four years ago, it was something that was not fathomable at all," Evans told us in 2014. "There was no hint that this could come about."
Evans and Harris met in Dallas in 1961 and were together for 56 years.
"Jack was gregarious, funny, a strong believer in social justice, and a mentor to generations of LGBTQ people, and their straight allies," Pastor Folkerth said in the Facebook post. "He lived through remarkable social change for LGBTQ people, marveled at those changes, and was a key part in those social changes happening."
At the time of their union, Evans and Harris told us they think there was a greater reason for them to join together in marriage.
"You often wonder what you are doing here ... what's your purpose? And we talked about that for a long time, and maybe this is it," Harris said.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings issued a statement Friday regarding Evans' death.
"Dallas mourns the loss of Jack Evans, a former bank employee, real estate agent, gay rights activist and, most of all, a loving husband to George Harris," the mayor said. "Over the course of their 50-plus years together, Jack and George went from losing their jobs and being forced to hide their love to celebrating last year as the first same-sex couple to legally marry in Dallas County. I consider it an honor to have spent some time with Jack and I hope it gives George some comfort to know that his city and many across the country are mourning with him."
A memorial service will be held at Northaven United Methodist Church. Details are pending.
