Richard Wayne Evans

Richard Wayne Evans, our dearly loved husband, father, grandpa and friend, passed away  peacefully in his sleep on June 7, 2024. He was born on October 11, 1946 to Harold and Viola Evans in Ogden, Utah. Richard graduated from Ogden High School in 1965. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and faithfully served a mission in the Cook Islands from 1966 to 1969. He learned the Māori language fluently and could still rattle off just about anything we wanted him to say—right up to the end. In 1975 Richard married the love of his life, Suzanne Michelle Nowak. They built a home and reared a family together in Eden, Utah. After attending technical school in Riverside, California, he enjoyed almost 30 years working in his career as a dental technician at Frontier Dental Lab in Ogden on Capital Street and in Eden at Iverson Dental. He made a lot of lifelong friends during the course of his career.

 

Richard had a heart for service. He was a consistent home teacher/minister, a calling that he truly loved. He also served as a beloved scout master for years and loved the boys he worked with. 

 

One of Richard’s best qualities was his ability to create space in his life for people and adventures. Need a hand with a project? He’d be there. Tending grandkids? You bet! Having a bad day? He’d be there calling you to cheer you up with a funny story or anecdote. He was a great example of loving people the way the Savior would and prioritizing things like time with loved ones, good books, music, food, and the beauty of the world.

 

Richard was a consummate adventurer and mischief maker. He was truly a unique individual. Wherever he was, there was fun to be had or a crazy story to hear. He was passionate about his family and friends first, but they were followed very, very closely by motorcycles, camp trailers, fishing boats, tubing rivers, playing racquetball, skiing, hopping freight trains all around the western United States, rollerblading through the US and Europe, traveling, fixing everything with silicone and C-clamps, driving around on his beloved Kubota tractor, “nicking rocks” for landscaping, rock and roll music, classical music, cozy naps, and Macho Combo burritos. Whether you were a friend, neighbor, ward member or former scout, just about everyone has a story about Rich Evans. He kept us all in stitches. 

 

In 2013 Richard had an ATV accident that changed the course of his life. He had to give up a lot of the hobbies that he loved; however, his love for his family and his Savior really deepened in his latter years. He would always tell us to “stay close to the church”. His testimony of God, temple work, and eternal families was simple, but sure.

 

We know that Richard had a warm welcome party in heaven consisting of his loving parents, his older brother, baby Harold Evans, countless black labradors (all named Saul), three yellow labs, Ginger, Rose, Gus and a myriad of cats, bunnies and hamsters which were incumbent upon him by his children.

 

Richard left behind his precious wife, Michelle, his sister, Lorna (Pat McDonough), his children, Matthew (Aubrey Jensen), Amanda (Shaye Larsen), Andrea (Devon Hyatt), Charlotte (Jean-Baptiste Milelli), and 12 adoring grandchildren, Nikolas, Andrew, Ryan, Kate, Esther, Eden, Ashton, Lucy, Scarlett, Sienna, Pepper and Georgie. We will miss him every moment.

 

Our family would like to thank the caregivers at McKay Dee Hospital and South Ogden Rehab for their patient and tender care.

 

In lieu of flowers, please take your family out to a prime rib dinner with horseradish sauce (his favorite) and share a story or two about Richard.

 

The viewing and funeral services will be held on Monday, June 17th 2024 with Viewing from 10 AM to 11:30 AM and Funeral at 12 PM at the LDS chapel in Liberty, Utah,  4279 N 3300 E, Liberty, UT 84310.  Interment Meadow View Cemetery in Eden.