Barbara Jane Thorpe Evans

Barbara blessed us with 88 wonderful years. She was born on February 13, 1938 in Great Falls, Montana to Floyd LeRoy Thorpe and Velma Zora Harsh Thorpe. She was the third child and was preceded in death by her parents, her older brother, Richard Thorpe, and her older sister, Sue Thorpe Wood. She is survived by her younger brother, John Thorpe. Richard Thorpe was killed in action while serving in Korea. She was his devoted little sister and was so devastated by his loss that she named her only son after him to honor his memory.

In the early 1950s, the family moved from Pasadena, California to Salt Lake City, Utah and subsequently joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Barbara graduated from Olympus High School in 1956. She attended the University of Utah College of Nursing, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and became a Registered Nurse. As part of her early training, she completed clinicals in Washington, D.C., where she met a young sailor, Burton LaVarre Luce, also from Utah. They married in 1959 and raised 4 children. They built a full life together in North Dakota, then Colorado, and eventually returned home to Utah. After 28 years together, their marriage ended in divorce.

For over 40 years, Barbara was a gifted practitioner with jobs ranging from floor nursing in various specialties, including certification as a Lactation Specialist, to Director of Nursing over several disciplines and multiple clinics. She made a lasting impact on the lives of her patients, their families, and her colleagues. Barbara also served as Adjunct Faculty in the College of Nursing at Minot State University.

She focused on her children and remained single for many years; always working diligently to provide a happy, stable life for them. She made sure they had everything they needed and also provided lots of fun along the way, including many camping trips, resort stays, and other fun travel adventures. Her children remember that she was always a great sport who loved to laugh, even at herself, often shedding good-humored tears. Barbara taught in each of her children’s elementary school classes, covering the anatomy of the heart and eye. They were so proud of her! Barbara served as a Cub Scout/Webelos leader for her young son and held numerous other church callings throughout her life. As a faithful daughter of our Heavenly Father and a devout member of her faith, she always served when and where needed. She taught her children to love nature, to learn about and appreciate other cultures, and showed them, by example, the value of living a Christ-centered life.

Barbara worked for 12 years as an usher at the Salt Lake LDS Tabernacle, where she met David Warren Evans, who had lost his wife, Shirley Jones Evans, to breast cancer after 44 years of marriage. Now single, Barbara and Dave began dating and were ultimately married in the Jordan River Temple in 1999. They served happily as temple workers at the Jordan River and Salt Lake Temples for over 25 years. For nearly 4 of those years, Barbara also served as a Salt Lake Temple Coordinator. In their wonderful, devoted 27 and a half years together, they had the privilege of traveling the world via luxury cruising, train excursions, and other group travel tours. She thoroughly enjoyed these times with her beloved husband, Dave.

Barbara loved her large and expanded family with all her heart, might, mind, and soul. She was not only a hardworking, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and nurse but also a tireless caretaker for her family and friends. We cannot begin to count all those she comforted and cared for throughout her lifetime. She kept a clean, comfortable home to welcome family and friends. She was also a marvelous cook who made delicious family meals, including the best potato salad ever! She began the tradition, which continues today, of her minestrone soup on Halloween.

Barbara is survived by her husband, David Warren Evans, and her children: Richard Burton Luce (Barbie); Michelle Luce Velega (Asiasi); Karanina Luce Eddington (Alex); Shannon Luce Fridley (Mike); Douglas Warren Evans (Diane); Mark Allen Evans (RaeLyn); Julie Ann Sharp (Monte); and Jeannie Evans. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister, Monte Sharp (son-in-law) and grandchild (Skyler Damjanovich). Barbara and David are also blessed with 17 beautiful grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren (plus 3 on the way).

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 22nd, at 2:00 p.m., at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary Chapel, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Millcreek, Utah. For those who wish to attend, a viewing will be held from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m., before the service. Burial and grave dedication services will immediately follow at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.