So here's the update on my situation. I was able to find a shop to evac now and fill / check for leaks later. The cost of the service is going to be about $80. It took a while to find someone willing to help me out, but the key was finding a local gas station mechanic with the equipment rather than buying any extra tools myself. This was the less expensive option, unless I wanted to make A/C work part time career. So far the job is costing me about $400 and an afternoon of work.
I origionally took my jeep in to have the A/C diagnosed at a big name shop. They were fairly thorough and determined the problem to be the compressor. They wanted to charge me $1200 for the repair - $900 in parts alone. I put the job off until I could find a better deal on parts and the time to do it myself.
My jeep is paid for and in excelent mechanical shape (except for the A/C). No need to get rid of it now. As the saying goes "jeeps dont die, they just get rebuilt." Besides, I have a bet with my brother in law to see who's suv will last longest. His Toyota died about 185k. I plan to get to 300k before I get something new.