Evan Wray

1999 - 2026

Evan Wray

July 9, 1999 - February 14, 2026

Evan loved fully without expectations of consequence. He reached for every person in his life with a steady hand and eyes that told you it would be okay. He went out of his way to help those that mattered to him and would see no issue in going to the ends of the earth. Evan was fully himself, a bright light in a dark world, a smile at every end of the line.

Evan Spencer Phylaktos-Wray, 26, Helena MT, died in Billings Montana from a devastating hypoxic brain injury.

He was born in Lancaster California in the year of 1999 to parents Michelle Panyota Phylaktos, and Clair Russell Wray. Evan was a boisterous and outrageous little boy, always following his little sister and wanting to do everything she did. Once while the siblings were still in Elementary school and learning and hearing about the Iraq war, they decided to make a sign on a giant poster board stating, "Honk for world peace." They took a boombox that was playing "Trains Calling All Angels" and walked up and down their neighborhood playing that song on repeat over and over again. They got many honks. That's who Evan was, even as a little boy, he saw an injustice and did everything in his power to right it, in the way he knew how to.

Evan attended elementary school at Clancy School in Clancy, Montana, and the other half at Montana City School, in Montana City, Montana. He then went to middle school at Joe Walker Middle School in Quartz Hill California, and then finished middle school back at Montana City, Montana. Evan then attended and graduated high school from Helena High School, here in Helena Montana. Evan then went headfirst into the chef world. He then came to be trained under two classically trained, Michelin star chefs. Cooking was Evan's way of telling you he loved you. Evan would often state to me that he wanted people to eat with their eyes before they ate with their mouth. He was so passionate and such a perfectionist to his cooking. While working in a fast casual, yet high quality restaurant, Evan missed the deep attention to detail and creativity that came with fine dining, and although his current place of employment had high merits, they did not meet his perfectionist standards so in frustration, he banished himself to the basement to process meat.

Evan loved his dog Odin with everything in him. He would often state to me that he would rather have a work from home job, so he could spend more time with Odin. He hated leaving after his sister in the mornings because he would be the one to say the final goodbyes to Odin. Evan adored his animals and all animals and truly treated them with the dignity and respect they deserved.

Evan and his friends Eric and Jaden were practically inseparable throughout their lives, from working on food trucks together, to going to countless raves, they were together through it all. Evan even became an ordained minister to marry his best friends Eric and Cali Dunbar.

Everyone and anyone that knew Evan knew how much he loved riding. It was the one thing besides cooking that brought Evan great joy and freedom. Evan's depression melted off the back of his bike Girdie, or Ariel while riding into the sunset.

Evan will always be remembered for his ability to talk to anyone at any time for any amount of time. His sister often had to account for an extra 30 minutes wherever we went because Evan would inexplicably find some connection and make a friend.

We will always remember his smile, and his infectious laugh. Evan was a miraculous man, friend, brother, and son. We could not have asked for a better human to have graced our life, even for the short time we had him, we will cherish him, eternally, forever, and then some.

Evan was preceded in death by his maternal Grandfather Spyros Phylaktos, and his paternal grandparents, Donna and Donald Wray, along with many dogs, cats, and rats that are eager to greet him when he arrives wherever he is going. He is survived by his sister, Emily Wray; his parents, Michelle and Russell Wray; his very close cousin, Jean-Pierre Makkaris, among many other Wray cousins, aunts, and uncles, and his loving Phylaktos family overseas.

A Celebration of Life and Reception for Evan will be Saturday February 28th at 3 p.m., at 501 Euclid Ave, Helena Montana, 59601 in the Helena Indian Alliance Gymnasium.

Simple Cremation Montana

315 E Sixth Avenue

Helena, MT 59601

(406)410-1321