John Redmond "Johnny Red" Evans Sr.
Apr 5, 1943 -
Aug 2, 2020
John Redmond Evans was born on April 5, 1943, in Galena, Alaska, to Charles and Elizabeth (Nollner) Evans. He was the third youngest of 13 children. Growing up in Galena in the 1940s and 50s, he had to learn how to drive dogs, cut wood and haul water.
He attended school in Galena and graduated from Mt Edgecombe. He received his associate degree as an electrician from Haskell University in Lawrence, Kan. He met Sophie (Norton) Evans in Arch City, Kan., and reconnected in Kotzebue, Alaska. They married in 1965, and had three children: Johna, Suzanne and John Jr. They also raised Tex Beasley whom he considered a son.
Johnny worked for the State of Alaska DOT, Red Dog Mine, Northwest Arctic School District and PHS Hospital. He volunteered for Search and Rescue and he was Assistant Chief at the Kotzebue Fire Department. He was also an avid commercial fisherman. His hobbies included baseball, volunteering, supporting his hometown sports teams, bingo and spending quality time with his family and friends. He once raced his boat, the "Kotzebue Flash," in the Yukon 800.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Elizabeth Evans; siblings, Arthur, Harold, Charles Jr., Alan, Marjorie, Florence, Hazel, Cora and Miranda; in-laws, Dick and Esther Norton; brothers-in-law, Victor - the first, Victor - the second, Dick Jr., Richard and Tommy Norton; sisters-in-law, Natalia, Alma Jane and Tina Norton; and nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his wife, Sophie; their children, Johna, Suzanne, John Jr. and Tex; siblings, Alfred "Dick" (Lilly) Evans, Emmett Evans; sister-in-law, Cathy (Pitka) Evans, Ernie and Mary Norton; nieces and nephews; grandchildren and close friends.
At Johnny's request he was cremated and his ashes will be laid to rest in Kotzebue next to his in-laws at the Kotzebue Hill Cemetery and in Galena close to his parents at the Louden Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Evans, Wells Fargo Savings Account #2605752991.
