Gary Evans

Wyoming Valley West retired teacher, coach, cameraman, student council advisor and school director.

With deep regret, the family of Gary W. Evans announces his death on July 30, 2025, at the age of 75, during a short stay at Maple Ridge Care Facility. He will be remembered as a man of strong faith, family and service to his community.

Gary was born April 1, 1950, in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital to parents Hayden and Rheba Wolfe Evans, of Edwardsville.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Hayden.

Gary is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 53 years, Gail (Zekas) Evans; his son, Ryan, and wife Kristen, of Kingston; and his daughter, Kelly Evans, of Forty Fort. He also leaves behind his cherished grandsons, Jamie and Cameron Evans, of Kingston; and two dogs, Tucker and Peeps.

Additionally, Gary is survived by his in-laws: sister-in-law, Donna Davis, and her husband, Tom, of Dallas; sister-in-law, Rose Isaac, of Rowlett, Texas; sister-in-law, Donna Drouse, and her husband Bob, of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; sister-in-law, Pam Koviack and her husband Bob, of West Pittston; and brother-in-law, Pete Zekas, and his wife, Donna, of Auburn.

Gary will be fondly remembered by his nieces and nephews, including Scott and Donna Evans, of Georgia, Jan and Joe Butcher, of Shavertown, Megan Partlow, of Texas, Cole Morningstar, of Pottsville, and Peter and Ashley Zekas, of Auburn.

Growing up on Hillside Avenue, Gary's childhood was filled with playing stickball in the street, sledding down Russell Street hill, and watching matinees at the Grant Theater or being treated to Rozy Kozy's hamburgers. He also got into mischief at the pumpy chasing rats, which he atoned for by faithfully taking out the ashes from Immanuel Baptist Church on Zerby Avenue every week. At Edwardsville High School, Gary was an athlete, playing on both the football and basketball teams.

After the state mandated school jointure in 1966, Gary attended and was graduated from Wyoming Valley West High School in Kingston in 1968. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Mansfield State Teachers College (now Mansfield University) and graduate credits from Penn State University. This education led to a distinguished 36-year career at Wyoming Valley West Middle School, where he served as a science teacher and chair of the science department. As a student council advisor, wrestling coach and football cameraman for 43 years, Mr. Evans was a mentor to thousands of young people. Room 217, his classroom, was filled with birds, reptiles, amphibians and a variety of plants in the greenhouse, where students learned to nurture both flora and fauna. He taught his students not only science but also discipline, respect, responsibility and pride in their achievements.

Gary was a dedicated life member of both the National Education Association and the Pennsylvania State Education Association. He also served as Vice President of the Wyoming Valley West Education Association and was a member of the Board of School Directors at Wyoming Valley West after his retirement.

A man of many passions, Gary enjoyed gardening, often growing an overabundance of tomatoes. For nearly 50 years, he planted and maintained the beautiful Kwanzaa cherry trees along Osceola Avenue and Chester Street, which form a stunning pink canopy each spring. He was a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State football teams, riding the waves of victory and defeat.

Above all, Gary loved his family with all his heart. He was a devoted father and grandfather. He was immensely proud of all his children's and grandchildren's accomplishments and would have loved to watch Jamie play in the Little League World Series with his Challenger Baseball team later this month. He and Gail would have celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on Aug. 12. Gail found the CVS bag with her anniversary cards under his place mat after his hospitalization in July, a testament to his enduring love.

Gary was a lifelong member of Immanuel Baptist Church, where he served as a janitor, Deacon, Chairman of the Trustee Board, and Church Moderator. He continually worked to maintain and improve the church and its facilities.

Service information:

The family requests this event be treated as a celebration of life and asks guests to wear bright colors in place of traditional black garb.

In lieu of flowers, the family also requests guests make any donations in Gary's name to Wyoming Valley Challenger Baseball at P.O. Box 1714, Wilkes-Barre, PA; or "Gary W. Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund" at luzfdn.org/donate (or by mail to The Luzerne Foundation at 34 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702); or Immanuel Baptist Church at 25 Zerby Ave., Edwardsville, PA; or to Blue Chip Animal Rescue.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at Harold C. Snowdon Home for Funerals Inc., 420 Wyoming Ave., Kingston. Special music will be performed by Scott Coates.

Funeral services will be performed by the Rev. James C. Quinn at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, in Immanuel Baptist Church, 25 Zerby Ave. in Edwardsville, followed by burial in Denison Cemetery.