Gordon E Evans

Gordon Evans passed away on the 67th anniversary of Alaska Statehood, January 3, 2026.

He was born in 1932 to Ethel Mae Rogers and William John Evans in Douglas, Arizona. Raised in both Arizona and Missouri, he graduated from Douglas High School at the age of 16.

During his freshman year at Texas Western, he enlisted in the US Navy. After Naval Journalism School, he chose to serve at Kodiak and began his 74-year Alaskan adventure in 1952.

The Korean War took him to journalism stints with the Pacific Fleet. After finishing his four years of service, he completed college at the University of Arizona School of Journalism in 1958. He would later be inducted into the Arizona Daily Wildcat Hall of Fame.

After graduation, he worked for the Tucson Citizen, then for United Press International, becoming their Anchorage Bureau Manager in 1961. That's how he met Bill Egan, Alaska's first state governor.

Gordon became the managing editor for the Anchorage Daily News in 1962. While covering the 1964 legislative session, he had a blind date with the Secretary of State's executive secretary, a Stanford grad named Elizabeth Wyller. On a dinner date a month later, he was paged about what they would soon learn was the 9.2 Great Alaska Earthquake.

Back at home, he moved to Juneau and married Elizabeth later that year. Just before the wedding, Governor Egan hired him as Special Assistant, and he functioned as a press secretary, speechwriter, coordinator of board appointments, and legislative liaison.

After Governor Egan lost his reelection bid, Gordon and the family headed to the University of Arizona Law School, where he became managing editor of the Arizona Law Review, and earned his J.D. in 1970.

For the rest of his life, he and Elizabeth lived in Juneau. He was a practicing lawyer and lobbyist for his entire legal career, partnering with Allan Engstrom, then Ely, Guess, and Rudd, and finally his own practice. He served as chair of the Alaska Democratic Party and in many public roles related to the Juneau community, law, and education, notably the University of Alaska Board of Regents.

For his final years, he and Elizabeth shared a suite at the Juneau Pioneers Home. He is survived by Elizabeth, his children Erik and Kari (Ken) and his grandchild Helen. He was preceded in death by brothers Roger and Bob, and grandchild Rheid.

A celebration of life will be held at the Hangar Ballroom from 2-5 pm on Monday, March 30.