Elwood Claud Evans

Born in Payson, Elwood lived his entire life in Arizona. The son of James Claud Evans and Myrl Evans, he grew up in a cattle ranching family that resided in various locations in the state, including the Flagstaff and New River areas. As a young man, he rode horses, worked with cattle, and learned about the animals and plants of his native state. A graduate of Glendale High School, where he was President of the Future Farmers of America, he later grew many delicious fruits and vegetables for his family.

Elwood was a business owner in New River where he had a partnership interest in a gas station and store where he learned and applied many car repair skills that he used throughout his life. In the 1950s, Elwood served in the U.S. Navy “Sea Bees” in the Philippines where he performed military security and police services. Following his honorable discharge, he pursued a long career with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (Highway Patrol). Following his retirement from the DPS, Elwood pursued a second career as a security officer for Salt River Project, from which he also retired. Elwood loved camping, fishing, and riding recreational vehicles with his family in the mountains and deserts of Arizona, Utah, and Colorado.

In 1956, Elwood married Letha, his devoted wife of 67 years, who survives him. He is also survived by his two children, Linda and Charles, from his first marriage to Francis; his two daughters from his marriage with Letha, Carol and Tina; his stepdaughter Carla, daughter of Letha; his granddaughter Madeline and her family; his step grandson Aron and his family; and other friends and family. His presence, intelligence, sense of humor, and fatherly love are deeply missed.