Donald "Don" "Dee" Evans

1944 - 2024

Donald "Don" "Dee" Evans
Nov. 1, 1944 - July 5, 2024

 Donald "Don" "Dee" Evans, 79, with his family by his side, passed away on July 5, 2024 at Mercy Hospital following his battle with cancer. Despite the pain he stayed strong until the end. Don(Dee) was born on November 1, 1944, in Buffalo, Missouri to the late James Roscoe and Mary Jane (Behl) Evans.
He graduated from Tunas High School in 1963 and completed 2 years at Drury University. He was baptized as an adult and a member of the Church of God. He was also a life member of the American Legion Post #19 of Buffalo, Missouri. He served his country at the Webb Air Force Base in Big Springs, Texas from 1965-1969 as an air traffic controller. After the service, he worked various jobs and retired with 30 years from the Public Works of Springfield as a street and waterway inspector.
Don(Dee) met the love of his life, Judy, at a restaurant called "Smacks" in Kansas City. Joe Kelhofer, Dee's friend, persuaded him to flirt with Judy and from this growth of love they got married at the Air Force Base Chapel in Big Springs, Texas on August 24, 1966. They celebrated 57 years of marriage and had 3 children: Duane, Jeffrey, and Cheryl.
Don(Dee) was very focused on being a Godly man. He was also a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and uncle. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He loved his church family, enjoyed fellowshipping at church functions, and having bible studies. Following retirement, he moved to the family farm where he was born. Don's happiest times included making memories with farm work, listening to his children sing and play instruments, loving and sharing adventures with his grandkids, and of course Treasure Lake's Fourth of July celebration. His family wants to thank him for his Godly leadership and example. When it came to being a dad…"You nailed it, Dad!" As a grandpa, he was always calm, easy going, fair, humble, and he was sometimes "funny" without even trying which always made the grandkids laugh!
He Is survived by his wife Judy; his sons Duane(Teri) Evans, Jeffrey(Patti) Evans; his daughter Cheryl(Jerry) Porter; grandchildren Ethan(Morgan) Evans, Elise Evans, Breanna(Michael) Arthur, Nakayla Evans, Patrick Evans, Shalissa Hutson, Joseph Hutson, Jessica Hutson, Brandon Patterson, Alex(Kyndall) Porter, Kasey(Cory) Drummond; great grandchildren Wyatt, Dakota, Bentley, Riley, Jon, Hadlie, Marley, Zaylynn, Emmerson, Creedence; sisters Dorothy Deckard, Donna(Don) Stidham; sister-in-law Connie Evans; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Paul, Jerry, and Eddie Evans; sister Linda Lannas; brother-in-law Lloyd Deckard; sister-in-law Sharron Evans; nephew Shane Stidham, and great-nephew Alexander Stidham.
Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2, 2024, in the Cantlon-Otterness & Viets Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Blackwell officiating.  Honorary escorts will be Butch Rankin, Ron Milliman, Howard Luther, Bo Hampton, James Henry, and Albert Kerns.  Visitation will be from 2:00-03:00 p.m. Friday at the Funeral Home.
We all love and miss you so much!