Jacqueline Lugibihl Evans

Jacqueline Lugibihl Evans was the fifth of 7 children born to Myron and Lillian Lugibihl. “Tari”, nicknamed after the Taranaki volcano in New Zealand, was born September 21, 1923 in Santa Fe, NM. She passed away, five months after her sister Bonnie’s death, on December 18, 2016 in Ahwatukee.

Tari graduated from high school in Santa Fe. She attended NM State and Utah State, initially majoring in music but eventually graduated from Utah State University with a teaching degree. In the late 1940s, after a brief marriage, she and her sister Bonnie taught school on the Zuni reservation.

Eventually she, her mother Lillian, and Bonnie moved to Tempe. There she began her long career as a teacher in the Phoenix valley. They were joined in the early 1950’s by her father, Myron, after he retired as a teacher in New Mexico. They began an association with the Phoenix Zoos and programs in the Gammage Auditorium.

In the late 1950’s, while Tari and Bonnie were studying in Mexico City, Bonnie met and fell in love with Alfonso Rodriquez. Bonnie and Al moved to Tempe, next door to Tari and Lillian. Tari lived with her much beloved mother for the next 30 years. Tari, Lillian, and Bonnie were very active with the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, the West Phoenix Wildlife Zoo as well as the Phoenix Zoo. Together, with Al, they traveled the world as he participated in the Phoenix Orpheus Male Chorus and Rotary Club.

Along with her mother, Tari’s sister Bonnie was her constant companion. They were inseparable, child hood and adult best friends. They accompanied each other through college and early teaching experiences. When Bonnie married Al, he became an equal companion. Tari had many talents, among which was a flair for folk art. She, her mother Lillian, and Bonnie frequently entered Arizona State Fair competitions for handicrafts, art and baked goods. After Al’s untimely passing in 2013 Bonnie and Tari continued to reside close to each other in Ahwatukee and were always each other’s best friend.

In early December she was preceded in death by her nephew Steven (Mary Ann) Le Duc. She is survived by her nephews Ted (Marti) Sahd, Randolph (Diane) Sahd, John (Terry) Le Duc , Jeff Burbank, and many great and great great nieces and nephews. Tari until her death remained close to Bonnie’s sister-in-law, Rebecca, brother-in-law, Ruben and to Marisol Figueroa.