Michael Paul Evanson

Mike was born in Los Angeles to Ann and Bob Evanson on May 23, 1951. He grew up in MacGregor, Texas, before graduating from Memorial High School in Tulsa in 1969. It was in the halls of Memorial that he met the love of his life, Kathy Logan. They married in 1972 and remained devoted to each other for 54 years.

Mike was a proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where he served as treasurer of his fraternity, Delta Upsilon. He loved OU football and rarely missed an OU–Texas game with his friends. He passed his CPA licensing exam (on the first try!) and went on to work for Deloitte Haskins & Sells and Arthur Andersen before starting his own accounting practice, Evanson and Associates. His family and friends are grateful for the years of free financial advice he so generously provided.

Mike believed deeply in giving back to his community. He donated his financial talents to several nonprofit organizations, including the Ghost Ranch Foundation and the Community Service Council in Tulsa. He also served as treasurer of College Hill Presbyterian Church, where he and Kathy were members for 48 years.

Mike loved the outdoors and was an avid runner and triathlete. He enjoyed running with the Friday Afternoon Running Team and and also backpacking with his daughters and friends throughout Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and the Paria Canyon in Utah. Mike and Kathy traveled together to visit their daughters in Europe, New York, and Montana, took cruises to Alaska and Norway, and made countless trips to Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. Wherever Mike traveled, he made a point of attending a baseball game at the home stadium in each city he visited.

Mike cherished being Dad and later Papa. He believed in Jana and Kari and unconditionally supported them in all of their decisions. He never missed his daughters’ or grandkids’ sporting events, recitals or performances, nor did he ever throw away any of their artwork.

After a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2013, he faced the journey with remarkable bravery, humor, and determination. He continued to find ways to stay engaged in life, including numerous activities with the Oklahoma Parkinson’s Alliance, such as ballet, cycling and voice classes.

We will remember Mike, Dad, and Papa for his patience, kindness, generous spirit, and for his blue eyes that twinkled whenever he smiled.

He is survived by Kathy; their two daughters, Kari Evanson (Antoine Jockey) and Jana Doyle (Chuck); his grandchildren, Clara and Charlie Doyle; his sister, Patty Miner (Phil); his brother, Jerome.

A celebration of life will be held in Tulsa at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mike’s memory to the Oklahoma Parkinson’s Alliance, College Hill Presbyterian Church, or Ghost Ranch.