Arlan Dean Evans, 62, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005, at his home in Ava. He was born February 9, 1942, in St. Joseph, La., to a family including three brothers and three sisters.
On April 15, 1966, Arlan was united in marriage to Laura “Midge” Townsend Bates at Lafayette, La., and to this union two children were born.
Arlan and Midge established Tacoma Taxidermy in Graham, Wash. and spent many enjoyable summers fishing in Alaska before retiring to Ava in 1999. Arlan enjoyed being active in the Highway Church of the Nazarene. He joined several worldwide Work-and-Witness Teams, and received the Nazarene Missions International Distinguished Service Award. Arlan was also a veteran and proudly served his country in the United States Army.
He was preceded in death by his father, Orville Lee Evans Sr., mother Della (Tarver) Evans, and his brother Rayborn Evans.
Arlan is survived by his loving wife, Midge; one son Dean Evans and wife, Deborah, of Lebanon; one daughter, Christine Cavanaugh and husband, Patrick, of Puyallup, Wash.; two grandchildren Katherine and Joey Cavanaugh, also of Puyallup, Wash.; two brothers, O.L. Evans Jr., of St. Joseph, La., and Jim Evans, of Hattiesburg, Miss.; three sisters, Virginia Foster, of Citrus Heights, Calif., Shirley Jones, of Mena, Ark., and Brenda Greer, of Rayville, La.; other relatives and several caring friends.
Memorial services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, in the Highway Church of the Nazarene, Ava, with Rev. Dustin Ledford and Rev. Joe Young officiating, under the direction of Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ava. An extended time of sharing and celebration of Arlan’s life was held at the church immediately following the service.
