Gloria Todd Evans

Gloria Todd Evans passed away peacefully in her home on Friday Aug. 5, 2016. She is at last joyfully embracing her beloved husband, parents, brothers, and many others after a long and cherished life. While we miss her deeply, we are grateful for her release from the effects of age, which she endured. Gloria was born on October 1, 1930 in Ogden, Utah to Mary Alois “Lois” Fowler and Harry James Todd. Her family later relocated to Salt Lake City and she attended East High School and the University of Utah where she studied education. She taught music, mathematics, P.E., and health at McKinley Elementary School. She married Dr. Edmund “Ted” Cannon Evans, the love of her life, on March 27, 1953 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. Together they started their family and moved around the country as Ted finished his medical training. They eventually returned to Salt Lake City. Gloria relished her calling as wife and mother. Her family was everything to her. She cared for, instructed, disciplined, organized, read to, worried over, played and laughed with, chauffeured, dried the tears of, and counseled with her five sons and one daughter. She eventually assumed the role of beloved grandmother to her 22 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren (with one on the way) who lovingly called her “Grandma Gloria”. She was a source of quiet wisdom, loving encouragement, and advice given in moments when most needed. Gloria thoroughly enjoyed the grandchildren’s adventures with “Grandpa Doc” and her. All the while, she watched over, guided, and knew just what to say and when. She encouraged them in their pursuits of academic learning, the arts, athletics, and especially their testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Gloria spent much of her life serving in many church callings including Primary president, Blazer Scout leader, Relief Society president, Compassionate Service Leader, YW Laurel advisor, dedicated Visiting Teacher, as well as a senior missionary with Ted in the Salt Lake Temple Square Mission for 3 years. She loved and cared for the young sister missionaries as if they were her own. She spent many hours working on family history and enjoyed sharing stories of her ancestors. Gloria loved ballet, theatre, and the symphony; spending many evenings at the Capitol and Pioneer Memorial Theatres, and Abravanel Hall. Classical music and opera were often playing in the home and she could be found humming and whistling as she tended to her home and family. Gloria provided a good example of caring for the elderly. As those around her grew older, Gloria cared for them. This included her Aunt Nona and her sweet mother, Lois. The pinnacle of this care came when Gloria lovingly cared for her dear husband in their home as he battled Alzheimer’s Disease. During this time she exhibited love, compassion, and fierce loyalty that was an example to her children and grandchildren. After the loss of Ted in 2014, it was apparent to everyone how much she missed him. She spent many hours pouring over their love letters and other memorabilia from their marriage sharing their life with her descendants. Gloria is survived by her children Edmund T. Evans, Steven T. Evans, Howard T. Evans (Lynne), Eric T. Evans (Barbara), Scott T. Evans (Susan), and Rose (Christopher) Hutchison; brothers-in-law Wayne C. Evans and his wife Vella N. Evans, Carlton C. Evans, and sisters-in-law Marianne S. Evans and Judy M. Todd. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harry James Todd and Mary Alois Fowler Todd; her brothers, Harry James Todd, Jr. and Robert Joseph Todd; parents-in-law David Woolley Evans and Beatrice Cannon Evans; brothers-in-law David C. Evans and his wife Joy F. Evans, and Robert C. Evans. Viewings will be held on Thursday August 11, 2016 at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah from 6:00-8:00 PM; and on Friday, August 12, 2016 from 10:00- 10:45 AM, with the funeral service following at 11:00 AM at the Garden Park Ward on 1150 East Yale Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary.

Gloria loved people and flowers. Please send any donations to the LDS Missionary and Humanitarian Funds (lds.org).Special, deep thanks to Ted Jr., her devoted, loving son for his enduring care of both Mom and Dad during the past 3 years. To Dina from Home watch Care Givers, Gloria’s beloved aide, for your gentle care and peaceful spirit. To Brock from IHC Hospice, for your tender care in her last days. To sweet Olivia, for your many, many years of love and service. And to all her family who cared for and served Mom in a myriad of ways, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these…ye have done it unto me.”