In Memory of . . . Marvin D. Evans (1925-2016)

The Rev. Marvin Davis Evans died on January 9th, 2016 at the age of 90.

Marvin was born on December 2nd, 1925 to Olaus Bowdoin Evans and Pearl Hutchinson Evans. He served in the United States Army after graduating high school, and participated in the liberation of Western Europe. Marvin received a Bachelor of Arts from Randolph-Macon College in 1949; and a Bachelor of Divinity from Meadville Lombard in 1963.

Rev. Evans was ordained to the ministry in 1963 by the First Unitarian Church of Richmond, VA. Rev. Evans served as minister to the Unitarian Church of Victoria, British Columbia from 1963 to 1967; minister associated with the University Unitarian Church of Seattle, WA from 1967 to 1969; interim minister to the Main Line Unitarian Church of Devon, PA from 1977 to 1978; Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Director of Church Staff Finances from 1978 to 1981; interim minister to the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship of Bellingham, WA from 1984 to 1986; and Minister Emeritus to the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship from 1988 until his death.

Rev. Evans was actively involved with the denomination. He served as a trustee or board member to the following organizations: the First Unitarian Church of Richmond, VA; the Vancouver Island Unitarian Committee; the British Columbia Unitarian Council; the Canadian Unitarian Council; UUA the Pacific Northwest District; the Puget Sound Unitarian Council; and the UUA Board of Trustees. Additionally, he served as a UUA Ministerial Settlement Representative and a Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association (UUMA) Good Offices Person.

Marvin and his dear spouse, Mary Hood Evans, moved to Seattle, WA in 1967 and joined University Unitarian Church of Seattle, where they remained dedicated members for thirty years. From 1967 to 1992, Marvin served on various boards, committees, and task forces, including Washington Citizens for Death with Dignity. Marvin was an active member of Cedars Church Unitarian Universalist, of Bainbridge Island, WA, from 2006 until his death.

Of his father, David Evans wrote: “Beyond family and a love of books and sailing, The Unitarian Church was very much in the center of my father’s life. He greatly enjoyed the service he gave to the church, who in return have been very supportive of him in his ‘radiant twilight years’.”

He is predeceased by his spouse, Mary Hood Evans; and his son, Kent Hood Evans. He is survived by his son David M. Evans, and his daughter-in-law Alexis Johanson.

A memorial service will be held on February 13 at 3:00 PM (PST), at The Island School, 8553 NE Day Rd, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. The service will be hosted by Cedars UU Church.

Condolences may be sent to the family at: David Evans & Alexis Johanson, P.O. Box 377, Keyport, WA 98345.

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