Evan William Townsend

Evan William Townsend was born Aug. 9, 2002, and died 28 days later, on Sept. 9, at Benefis Health Care in Great Falls.

Evan is survived by parents Robert and Amy Townsend of Billings; grandparents Norman and Catherine Evans of Billings, Jeanetta Townsend of Fairmont, W.Va., and William and Kate Townsend of Fairmont, W.Va. In addition, he is survived by great-grandparents Esther Evans of Laurel, Rudolph and Margaret Williams of Billings and Dona Townsend of Fairmont, W.Va. He will also be missed by a brother, Kenneth Stanley Townsend of Fairmont, W.Va.; as well as his uncles, aunt and cousins. His godparents for his brief life were Danny and Kellie Ensey. Evan was preceded in death by several great-grandparents, as well as brother, Trevor James Townsend, who also died as an infant.

Evan's short life was distinguished by his intense struggle to overcome hemangioendothelioma, and to that end he fought for life until the illness overtook him. His brief stay on earth was full of a tenacity that everyone who knew him will remember. His courage and determination will be forever remembered in our hearts. Evan was lovingly cared for by the staff in the neonatal intensive care unit at Benefis Health Care in Great Falls. The family is also grateful for the hospitality they received from the Benefis Gift of Life Program, which housed them for the four weeks of Evan's short life while they stayed with him in Great Falls.

A funeral will be held at Michelotti-Sawyers at 1001 Alderson Avenue in Billings, on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. A private burial will follow.

Memorials in Evan's memory may be sent to the Gift of Life Program at PO Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59405.