Nancy Bell Evans

1933 - 2024

Nancy Bell Evans

March 21, 1933 - January 26, 2024

Seattle, Washington - Nancy Bell Evans passed away on Friday, January 26th, succumbing to complications from a persistent and pernicious breast cancer she thought she had vanquished. She died surrounded by family. As a public figure, Nancy's many achievements and honors have been well chronicled. It falls to her family to fill in some of the blanks.

Born in Spokane, Washington as the daughter of a mining engineer and a teacher, Nancy was at her core a convener of people - a community binding agent. Whether in a board meeting, at a party, or around her own dining room table, she loved to bring people together even as she drew out and explored their differences. In any room she was a warm glow, throwing off intermittent sparks.

In her younger years, Nancy was an avid and stylish skier. She sailed and played tennis and was known to waterski during the advanced stages of pregnancy. She was part of a bridge club with close friends that endured for more than 50 years. As time rolled onward Nancy enjoyed the symphony, The New York Times crossword, her garden, watching the birds at the feeder, and a nice cocktail before dinner. And she loved just about any opportunity to visit with friends and family.

In the community Nancy was a tireless advocate for a diverse array of causes, from higher education to public television to reproductive health to helping those afflicted with cancer (that last one resonates). She was devoted to her Alma mater Whitman College and served on its Board of Overseers for 14 years and its Board of Trustees for 14 years before being named Trustee Emeritus in 2008. The Nancy Bell Evans Professorship of Music at Whitman College is established in her honor, and she pursued her passion for music and the arts as a member of the boards of the Seattle Symphony (35 years) and Benaroya Hall (27 years). Regrettably, none of Nancy's sons mastered her beloved piano, an instrument she taught to many others as a music teacher in her youth.

Nancy served on the Board of Directors of KCTS9 public television, the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation, the University of Washington Foundation, the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, and the Governor's Festival of the Arts. She was a founding trustee of Planned Parenthood of Olympia, a founder and Honorary Chair of the Governor's Mansion Foundation and a founder and chair of Friends of Cancer Lifeline, an organization that was especially close to her heart. And lest we forget, Nancy was First Lady of Washington state for 12 years.

Afforded custodianship of the Governor's Mansion at the tender age of 31, Nancy drew on her innate talents to make the mansion a welcoming place for state functions, community events, and most certainly for family. Christmases, Thanksgivings and other celebrations found the house packed to the rafters with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents with Nancy at the center of the maelstrom. Few things gave her more joy. Long after leaving the mansion, she continued to serve as a hub of extended-family life.

It is impossible to tell Nancy's story without celebrating her loving union with Daniel J. Evans, her husband of 64 years. They were partners in every part of their journey together. In politics, Nancy was said by one wag to be Dan's "in-house loyal opposition." At times that flowed from true differences of opinion but more often than not it was a function of her testing him to ensure that diverse perspectives had been considered. When a speech went longer than needed or Dan was losing the crowd, Nancy would let out a distinctive, timely cough. Dan knew it was time to wrap up. Nancy and Dan tested each other often on issues large and small, to the point their children nicknamed them "the Bickersons." But the back and forth was never to establish dominance or rectitude; it was their way of searching for the truth and a path to making things better. That was the hallmark of their public and private life together - finding ways to help people and making things better for others.

Nancy is survived by husband Dan; her sons Dan Jr. (Celia), Seattle, Washington; Mark (Deborah), Ipswich, Massachusetts; and Bruce (Christy), Arlington, Virginia; and her nine grandchildren - Eloise, Isabelle and Jackson (Dan & Celia); Emily, Ben and Grace (Mark & Deborah); and McKay, Andrew and John (Bruce & Christy). Nancy's extended family exceeds the limits of the page but was no less dear to her. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to CancerLifeline.org, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, or the Lilith J. Bell and Nancy Bell Evans Music Scholarship at Whitman College. Planning for a celebration of Nancy's life is underway. There will be music.