Franklin Evans

Franklin was born in Deep Water, MO on September 18, 1929. His family moved to the Lower Valley when he was 8 years old. After he graduated from Wapato High School, he went into the Army and served in the 29th Infantry in Okinawa Japan during the Korean War.

Franklin married Hattie Lillus Leach on November 28, 1957 and started their married life in Union Gap. As their family grew, they moved to Cowiche and took on a pear orchard. Franklin was an active member of Church of God his entire life. He loved gardening and raising farm animals. He spent his entire career at Libby’s as a mechanic and retired when the plant closed. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandkids and great grandkids.

Franklin was preceded in death by his parents Abner Philip Evans and Grace Schneider Evans as well as his brothers Charles, John, Carl and sisters Irene, Alene, and Geraldine.

He is survived by his wife, Hattie “Lillus” Leach Evans and brothers, Lee, Gene, Richard, Virgil and sister Christine. Franklin had five daughters: Sharon (Keith) Guthridge, Karen (Tim) Bentz, LeAnna (Stan ) Douglas, LaDonna (Jerry) Corbin, and Rachel (Jim) Erickson. They also had 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren with one more on the way.

Special thanks to his in-home caregivers, the staff at Landmark, and the Oregon Veterans Home.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, March 10, 2016 at Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 11, 2016 at Christian Life Center in Yakima with burial following at West Hills Memorial Park. To share a memory of Franklin visit, www.lepfuneralhome.com