Richard E. Evans

Richard Eugene Evans

was born Aug. 18, 1924 in Phoenix AZ to Agustus “Gus” Adolphus Evans and Mildred Ethel Hayden.  Preceded in death by his parents and oldest brother Arthur and survived by younger brother Raymond and sister Ruth (Cordes).  For much of his youth they lived and worked on the family cow ranch in the Lake Pleasant area.  When World War II came along, he and his brothers and cousins all enlisted in the Navy.  Dick, as he was known, spent most of his service time aboard the USS Alabama battleship in the Pacific theater.  At wars end, he and the other Evans’ returned to find the family ranch had been sold and they were all out of a job.  His sister Ruth was attending Tempe High school at the time and introduced

him to a good friend of hers, Katherine Helen Collier.  One thing led to another and on September 1, 1948 he married the love of his life.  He had built a little adobe house on the outskirts of Guadalupe and the newlyweds moved in.  Dick’s father in law had a farm south of Awatukee and the two of them began a partnership that lasted over thirty years.  Dick and Helen had a son, Arthur Ray, that only lived a few hours,  then raised another son and four daughters on the West Chandler farm.  Richard served many years on the Kyrene School Board and also the United Producers and Consumers Cooperative (CO-OP).  He was active in his church callings, serving the youth organizations many years, as Bishops councilor, Church Geneology Library missionary in Mesa, and Mesa Temple worker, all with his sweetheart beside him.  He loved to fish and hunt, and spend as much time as possible at their property in Alpine, AZ.  As a benefactor of the Benson Institute, he travelled to many South American countries and Morocco visiting the numerous projects to educate and uplift the underprivileged.  Not a man of many words, but of actions, he has been an example of Christ like love to his family and friends, and will be sorely missed.  He is survived by his wife Helen, son Richard Jr (Susie), daughters Mary (David) Smith, Renee (Drew) Fulmer, Carrie (Tim) Owens, and Robin (Lance) Hunt, 21 grandchildren, and 32 great grandchildren.  Visitation Friday June 23rd, 6 to 8 pm and services Saturday June 24th at 9:30 am at the LDS Chandler East Stake Center, 21320 S Greenfield Rd., Gilbert, AZ.