Ken Evans
August 11, 1926 - November 23, 2007
Obituary
Ken Kenneth A. Evans
8/11/1926-11/23/2007
Born in Rifle, CO., moved with his family to Woodland WA, together with nine brothers and sisters. At 17, Ken joined the Navy, and served as Aviation Metalsmith in south Pacific during WWII. Discharged May 1946, he married Emza Galbraith in Woodland Dec. 31, 1946. Emza and Ken were together until her death 49 years later. They had their first child, Judy, in Sept. 1947, followed by Jim, Connie, and Amy.
They moved to the Tri-Cities where Ken worked on Hanford construction, until he began his career driving for Consolidated Freightways, until retiring 19 years ago. The family moved to Ridgefield, WA, in 1961 and Burien in 1971. Ken lived in the family home in Burien until his death.
Survived by brother Irv, sisters Ida and Patsy, his four children, 8 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.
Member of Masonic Lodge 245, and active in their charitable projects. Regularly attended Tuesday coffee meetings of Consolidated Freightways retirees. Wintered with family members in Laughlin, NV, and Bullhead City, AZ.
In lieu of flowers: Masonic Scholarship Fund. Memorial gathering Bonney Watson Parker Chapel, 900 SW 146th St.,
Burien, 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.
Ken was my father-in-law. When I think of him I think of certain definite qualities: Tough. Nobody’s fool. A man who knew how to do things. Gruff.
Generous with his family. Generous with strangers: Regularly gave of his time to strangers, in charitable projects with his lodge of the Masons.
Two years ago, almost lost his life, packing food drive boxes with other Masons, being struck down after putting in a full day’s strenuous work. Support from his 4 children brought him to full recovery, especially his son Jim who stayed with him while he needed him.
Dear Amy,
Loosing our parents makes us take notice of our own mortality and how important time with our own children is!
Hopefully your knowing that others care will help you through this difficult time!
Remember that people want to help and will do whatever task assigned them. So if someone asks, “What can I do?” Give them even a mundance task if you have one.
God speed!
Sharon
Dearest Evans’ family,
I am so saddened for the loss of Uncle Kenny. I honestly can say that I know how you feel and what you are going through. My thoughts and prayers are with each one of you. It will be the wonderful memories that get you through each day.
Ken is my brother. For the last 6 years, we have spent Christmas, and lots of occasions from December to March together here in Arizona. Ken was a strong man with definite opinions, many of which we did not share. My children and grandchildren mourn his loss. He lived his life as he wanted and took care of his family. We’ll miss him but are grateful that we had as much time as we did.
For two years I spent Christmas with Uncle Kenny at my grandparents’ place in AZ. He also visited us at the river in Brinnon. He gave me money to buy a momento for myself in WA, DC when I was at the People to People conference. I bought him a DC cap.
I saw my Uncle Ken over the years at my grandparents’ place on the Duckabush River in Brinnon, WA. We always had family dinners and sat by the river around the fire in the evening.
Uncle Kenny was there for Christmas the year I was in Bullhead City and he came to the Brinnon river lots of times. He was fun.
My Uncle Ken was at my folks’ place at the river many tmes when I was there. He was always good to my girls. We had some good times.
Uncle Kenny and Aunt Em used to come to our house in Bothell with the rest of my mom’s family, have a big dinner and then go to the Yankee’s game.
Uncle Ken would bring back packages in his motor home from Arizona. My mom would fill up the space under his bench and the cupboards oveer his bed with things for our son, Josiah.
When Ken would come down in the winter, we would spend many hours visiting, watching games and having meals together. I will miss that companionship.
Uncle Ken and Uncle Irv came to Petersburg the year we were building our house. They came to build onto Aunt Lynne’s cabin out on the Narrows. They were over for dinner and Ken took pictures of our house and took them back to my parents.
This is my second entry: I email some of my friends to let them know about my brother’s death. A lifelong friend, Lorraine, sent a note back saying how sorry she was. She said she had such a crush on him when she was a teen ager — he was so handsome. I never knew that; he probably didn’t either.