Mitchell V. Evans

Mitchell (Mike) Evans was born June12, 1915 in his maternal Grandmother’s home in La Veta, CO. He and his mother joined his father in Rawlins, WY. When he began working for the Rio Grande RR. They lived in a two room building on an alley. Living in a railroad town, he had many interesting adventures that his family has enjoyed hearing for years!

He graduated from High School a year early and attended CSU (Then called Aggies). He graduated with a degree in animal husbandry, thinking he would be a cattle rancher. Instead, he met Gertrude Kellogg in Steamboat Springs and they were married three months later!

Due to his poor eyesight he was not able to serve in WWII. He worked for the Gold Coin Creamery in Denver, CO and made butter that was sent to the troops. Both of his daughters, Barbara and Peggy were born at the war’s end, when they moved to an old farm house in Wheat Ridge, CO.

He began working for his Father-in Law at his hardware store in Golden, CO and eventually took it over when Mr. Kellogg retired. His love for gardening led him to sell the business and open a garden shop. This did not go as he had hoped. He returned to school and received his Realtor’s License. He was on the Board of Directors at the Golden Savings and Loan Assoc. at the time and when the president passed away they asked him to take over. He successfully ran the business, expanding it with two branch offices.

During this time he was always very active in the Golden Lions Club. He became the District Governor in 1969. He and Gert traveled to Hong Kong to attend the National convention. They both loved to travel and since their two daughters were grown they joined Ports of Call and traveled to many places. In 1978, Gert died suddenly from cancer at the age of 62. He retired from the savings and loan at that time.

He later remarried an old friend, Lila Sorrell and they continued to travel for many years, until Lila could no longer travel. He loved working with wood and began making all sorts of furniture and carvings. His first and second families as well as friends benefited from his craftsmanship and thoughtfulness.

When Lila passed away in December, 2010, he moved to his new “home”, The Homestead in Lakewood. He had his own cottage, which he loved. He quickly made many friends and in a short time he was playing Bingo, dominoes, and shooting pool with them. He said every day he awoke was a good day.

He began falling the next November and he agreed he couldn't’t continue to live alone. He moved to the assisted living portion of The Homestead, still near all of his friends. But the falls continued, resulting in a compression fracture of his tail bone. This began his total loss of independence. He said over and over how good a life he had and that he was ready to move on to the next adventure.

He will be missed deeply by his two daughters, Barbara Drake and Peggy Beverly, his four grandchildren, Tara Bazata, Chelsey Drake, Erik Beverly, and Jason Beverly, and his three great grandsons Devin, Connor, and Seth Bazata. He will also be missed by his numerous “acquired” grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren from Lila’s family.

He was a good example to us all with his curiosity and attitude, never feeling sorry for himself or expecting anything he had not’t earned with hard work. Although he was 96 years old, he held the respect and awe of many people one third his age. If you knew him at all you couldn't’t miss his sharp intellect and wry sense of humor, not to mention his telling of many stories of his adventures throughout his very long life!

Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Olinger Woods Chapel, 1100 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make donations in the name of Mitchell Evans to the Lions Club of Golden.