Til we meet again, Brother Howard Evans

Howard Edwin Evans, Ph.D., loving husband, father, and grandfather passed away unexpectedly from a cardiac event at the age of 72 on June 29, 2022, in St. George, UT. 

   

Howard was born on February 7, 1950, in Salt Lake City, UT to Edwin Eschler and Mildred Belnap Evans. He grew up in Salt Lake City and later Denver, CO as the eldest son of his parents’ eight children. He was an active youth, captaining his high school basketball and track teams, and studying and working hard from an early age. From 1969-1971, he served a mission to South Korea for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before and after his mission he studied at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he met his sweetheart Mary Jean (Jeannie) Murdock. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church on August 14, 1972, and together welcomed five children into the world. 

At home, he was a loving, dedicated companion to his wife and an example of gospel living to his children. His family knew him for his energy, creativity, work ethic, humor, testimony, and his love of family togetherness, such as family home evenings and road trip vacations. He supported his children’s educational and extracurricular endeavors, enthusiastically attending activities whenever possible. Meaningful holidays such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas afforded him opportunities to joyfully share poetry and family heritage, including passing on traditions which honored the occasion. Most significantly, he was determined to have his posterity grow up in the light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. For as long as he lived, every Sunday found him in church with his family, and he loved family gospel learning. Even in later years, he taught, encouraged, and showed his love for his grandchildren through a weekly letter that included everything from clever puns to unique history facts to meaningful spiritual lessons. Nothing brought him greater satisfaction than to know his family was well and happy in the gospel. 

 

Howard realized great achievements in his professional career, beginning with a double major in physics and chemical engineering from BYU in 1974 followed by a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Caltech in 1979, with inductions into Sigma Pi Sigma and the Physics and Astronomy Honor Society. As an early-career professional, he was awarded numerous scientific patents, formally recognized for his outstanding teaching, and served on advisory positions in physics and chemical engineering at the University of Texas and the University of Colorado. After many dedicated years in senior engineering and executive leadership positions at IBM and 3M corporations, he served as the founding academic Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology for National University in San Diego, launching multiple new programs. He finished his career at Cal Poly Pomona as Dean of the College of the Extended University and International Center, which afforded him many opportunities for outreach and international student engagement in China and South Korea—an opportunity he treasured to help young people and spread goodwill abroad. In all these capacities, he was widely recognized for his talent, intellect, integrity, energy and organization, and his warm and lively sense of humor. 

 

Howard was a lifelong active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved to serve and attend church. In all his years of life, he devoted himself whole-heartedly to honoring church responsibilities, serving others, and striving to be an example of Jesus Christ. He always recognized the importance of each service opportunity, whether it was in priesthood leadership, teaching the gospel at home or abroad, helping others in temporal or spiritual needs, or nurturing the testimonies of children and youth. 

 

He is survived by a loving family, including his wife, Mary Jean (Jeannie); five children: Ryan (Rebecca Petersen), Joel (Alisa Porritt), Laurie, Julie Ritter (James), and Melissa Oehring (Jared); and thirteen grandchildren: Tyler, Seth, Savannah, Alyssa, Andrew, Connor, Logan, Elizabeth, Lindsey, Justin, Sarah, Noah, and Johnny. He is also survived by three sisters: Karen, Diane, and Pamela; two sisters-in-law: Nadine and Debbie; and many wonderful nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Mildred Evans; brothers: Scott and Mark; and sisters: Marjorie and Laurie.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., with a viewing at 9:00 a.m., at the Metcalf Mortuary Chapel, 288 West St. George Blvd, St. George, Utah. Interment will be held in the Mountain View Cemetery, Beaver, Utah. 

 

Live streaming webcast is available by clicking on the broadcast at the bottom. Webcast will remain on-line for 90 days. 

 

Flowers are welcome; or in lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the missionary fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as missionary service was one of Howard’s lifelong heartfelt convictions.

Annual Pool Party - first in three years!

 

 

On Tuesday, July 5, several dozen members of the B7 Ward gathered at the St. George Pool, adjacent to Dixie High School to cool down from triple digit summer heat. The water was refreshing, the conversation pleasant and the soda and Creamy bars were tasty. This was the first ward pool party since the summer of 2019. Thanks to all who helped plan the event as well as to those who participated.