Wayne E. Evans

1941 - 2014

Evans, Wayne E.Wayne E. Evans of Allentown died Tuesday, April 15, 2014, of a heart attack. Born in Bethlehem on Dec. 4, 1941, he was the younger son of A. Dorothy (Wasser) Evans and Roger J. Evans. As a boy, Wayne survived a bout of rheumatic fever that left him near death and bedridden for months. The illness defined who he would become, forging in him a desire to live life at full throttle, and a philosophy of living it on his own terms. An avid, lifelong motorcyclist, Wayne raced in hare scrambles and frequently rode "in the dirt," usually on his beloved Husqvarna. But it was on his street bikes that Wayne felt truly free. He explored the country on two wheels, including memorable trips to the Badlands of South Dakota and to the great air show in Oshkosh, Wis. Wayne would return home and regale family and friends with stories. Wherever he went, it was the goodness and generosity of the people he encountered that most touched him, a fact that might surprise those who saw only his tough exterior. Wayne's uncle, Dick Wasser, taught him to hunt as a child, and Wayne enjoyed decades of hunting. Those excursions fostered in him a reverence for wild places. He was a member of Black Rock Camp and Steel City Gun Club. Wayne fiercely loved his friends and believed they were the best gift in life, aside from two children who likely will never fully know how much Wayne's friends did for him over the years. A 1959 graduate of Liberty High School, Wayne worked as a laborer at the Bethlehem Steel until 1982, then used his considerable jack-of-all-trades skills to take occasional home-improvement jobs. Roofing, plumbing, masonry, home repair -- he did it all. Later in life, he had a second career as an installer for the former Diehl Appliance in Allentown. Survivors: He is survived by a son, J.R. Evans of Wyoming County; a daughter and son-in-law, Liz Evans Scolforo and Mark Scolforo of Lemoyne; and nieces. Services: A celebration of Wayne's life will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at John F. Herron Funeral Home, 458 Center St., Bethlehem; family will greet visitors from 3-4 p.m. In Wayne's honor, please dress casually and comfortably. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, donations in Wayne's memory may be made to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 1700 Hawk Mountain Rd., Kempton PA 19529, or to The Ruffed Grouse Society, 451 McCormick Rd, Coraopolis, PA 15108.