Philip David Evans

Philip David Evans was a man of integrity and boundless good humor. He was unpretentious, humble, sweet and faithful. His nature was generally placid, docile, and humble but he could go from 0 to 60 in seconds for topics he was passionate about. He was a man of extraordinary intelligence and generosity of spirit. He was attentive and interested in what you had to say. He cared deeply about what is going on in the world.

Born in Boone, Iowa on May 19, 1952, he died on August 28, 2018 at Clovis Community Hospital in California. His parents were John and Frances Evans where he was the youngest of five children. Phil so loved and admired his older siblings and their families; Mary Frances (Daniel) Bradley, Johan Marion (Barney) Meagher, Elizabeth Ann (Kent) Boswell and Richard William (Roberta) Evans. Being Uncle Phil was one of his favorite responsibilities to his many nieces and nephews.

Phil and LeeAnne had two children, Jessica and Stephen. The love he had for his family was his life’s purpose and without any doubt, they loved and adored him. Jessica earned a bachelor of science in nursing and is now a nursing instructor at Fresno State University, as well as a respected nurse in the intensive care unit at Clovis Community Hospital. Stephen, who died in 2010, earned his bachelor of science of Marine Engineering Technology at California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, Ca. After traveling the world for eight years, he returned to CMA as an instructor.

As for his love for LeeAnne, there is no other. No two people were better suited for one another. On August 5, 2018, they proudly celebrated their 40 wedding anniversary. They were always joking with each other, always laughing. They were adventurous and went out to see the world, they traveled to Italy and Germany, and family visits to Oregon, Iowa, Chicago, Missouri and Kentucky.

Friends were a major part of Phil’s life. He loved his friends as much as they loved him. If you were lucky to be his friend, then it was forever and you became family.

There are many stories about Phil because he was a notoriously bad driver. He would often loudly complain that people were driving too fast and passing him on the freeway. His habit was to stop 30 feet behind the line at a stop light. When the light turned green, he would press the gas too fast and then slam on the brakes going through the intersection, jolting passengers forward in their seats. He loved music, especially Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind and Fire and Chicago. Every day he completed the Sudoku puzzle in the local paper, in pen, and rarely with errors. He was a fan of the daily horoscope, taking delight on a 5 star day. He was a lifelong San Francisco Giants Fan. He loved to laugh.

The world is an emptier place without Phil. He was a giant among men and a person who achieved so much of what he wanted in his life, with humor, grace and fortitude. He created a safe and generous environment for everyone he knew and people genuinely felt special when he turned his smiling blue-eyed gaze upon them. Thank you, Phil, for being in our lives and being the kind of person we all aspire to be. Rest in peace and protect us from above. We love you beyond words.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fresno, California. A luncheon will be served after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Heart Association.