Elden Carlyle Evans

Obituary from the Billings Gazette: Elden Carlyle Evans, our beloved dad, uncle, brother, friend, grandfather and great-grandpa Boo, lost his struggle with prolonged illnesses on September 21, 2004. He was born June 24, 1926, in Salt Lake City, to Bart and Myrtle Evans. He married Elaine Walker on December 15, 1945. Dad's familiar limp was a constant reminder of his near fatal accident at the age of 13. His physical limitations would only serve to inspire his creativity and imagination. He had the greatest sense of humor. People gathered to him to hear stories that were legendary, off-color and sometimes true, and always entertaining. Children and animals flocked to him; his smile and laughter were contagious. Dad embarked on a series of adventures that always included hard work and salesmanship. Elden was the owner of the Peter Pan Pool Hall and the Yellowstone Specialty Co., which specialized in coin-operated amusement machines. Dad had a great talent with his hands, whether it be tinkering with pinball machines or slot machines or playing the trumpet.

Elden is survived by his children, Janeen Brazier, daughter-in-law, Trudy Evans, both of Salt Lake City, Michael D. Evans, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Shawna Eames (Bob) Billings; 15 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Maurine Hull; brother, Kenneth Evans (Georgene); several nieces and nephews and his "pussy twit," Flossy.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Dahle; his beautiful wife Elaine; and their son Steven.

The family would like to thank Big Sky Hospice for the care and compassion they provided.

An open house celebration will be held Saturday, Sept. 25, from noon to 3 p.m. at 3497 Briarwood Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Big Sky Hospice: 123 S. 27th, Billings, MT 59101.

Following is some information about Elden and Elaine from public records:

In 1960 Elden and Elaine were living at 4085 Olympic Way, and Elden was working as an insurance agent. From about 1958 to 1960, they were living at 4085 South 3250 East in Salt Lake City, and Elden was working as a New York Life Insurance Agent. From about 1953 to 1956, they were living at 1965 Westminster Avenue in Salt Lake City, and Elden was working as a service man for Yellowstone Specialty Company.

Previously, in the 1940 U.S. Federal Census for Salt Lake City, Utah, Elden was 13 years old and living with his parents and siblings, and they were listed in the census record as follows: Seth Bartlett Evans, 62, Myrtle Evans, 45, Dahyle, 17, Kenneth, 16, Elden, 13, and Maurine, 11. Seth was working as a clerk at a soft drink and lunch stand, and his wife, Myrtle, was working as a private nurse. They owned their own home at 3152 South 10th East Street, which was valued at $3,500. Seth had a 7th grade education, his wife, an 8th grade education, Dahyl was in the 3rd year of high school, Kenneth was in the 2nd year of high school, Elden was in the 6th grade, and Maurine was in the 45h grade. They were all born in Utah. For the 52 weeks Seth worked at 44 hours per week in 1939 his income was $1,300. Myrtle had been working as a private nurse for only 5 weeks, and did not disclose her 1939 income in the census record.

In the 1930 U.S. Federal Census for Salt Lake City, Utah, Elden Evans was 3 years, 9 months old, and living with his parents and siblings at 739 Blair Avenue, a home they owned valued at $1,000. They had a radio in their home, and were listed as follows in the census record: (Seth) Bartlett Evans, 51, Myrtle B., 35, Dahyle, 7, Kenneth, 6, Elden, and Maurine, who was one and a half years old. Seth and Myrtle had been married for 9 years. Seth was working as a bookkeeper at a hotel. Seth Bartlett Evans and Myrtle Vivian Butler, had been married June 11, 1921, in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the time Seth was 38 years old.

Prior to his marriage, in the 1920 census, Elden's father, Seth, had been living in Centerville, Davis, Utah, with his widowed mother, Josephine, 74, and siblings, William D., 55, George E., 40, and Hannah M., 46 years old. William was working as a carpenter, George as a tailor and Seth as a miner in a silver mine.

Two years earlier on September 9, 1918, when Seth completed his U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card in Butte, Montana, he described himself as being of medium height and build with brown eyes and hair, and was 40 years old, having been born September 17, 1877. He was living at 230 S. Montana Street in Butte, Montana, with his wife, and was working as a bookkeeper for William Sullivan at the Leggat Hotel in Butte.

Prior to that, in the 1880 Census for Centerville, Seth's family was listed as follows: (father) Johnathan Evans, 43, (mother) Josephine T., 35, William B., 18, Samuel E., 16, Sarah J., 14, Eliza J., 12, Monroe S., 10, John T., 8, Anna M., 7, Fred W., 4, Seth B., 2, and George E., 5 months old, born in December of 1879. Also in their home was Josephine's mother, Margaret Harman, 71, and a nephew, Charles B. Barnes, 6 years old. Johnathan was listed as working on the farm, but was also listed as being "feeble", sons William and Samuel were also working on the farm, Monroe was working as a stock herder, and Josephine's mother, Margaret, was working as a weaver.

Three years later, on February 20, 1883, Seth's father, Jonathan Benner Evans, passed away and was buried in the Centerville Cemetery. He was the son of William Evans and Hannah Roberts Himes Benner. Johnathan had married Josephine Smith Harmon on July 7, 1860, in Centerville, Davis, Utah, and they had 11 children. Their last son, Ralph Thompson Evans, was born in 1881, just two years before Jonathan Benner Evans passed away in 1883.

Jonathan's mother, Hannah Roberts Himes Benner Evans, was born November 30, 1811, in Chester county, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Jonathon Benner and Jeannette Elizabeth Himes or Hynes according to Find A Grave.com, and she married William Musgrove Evans, born April 6, 1811, in Downington, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Elden's father, Seth Bartlett Evans, passed away on March 21, 1959, at the age of 81 years old, having been born September 17, 1877, in Centerville, Utah, to Jonathan B. Evans and Josephine Harman. His wife, Myrtle Butler Evans was living at 2695 South 13th Street East in Salt Lake City at the time of Seth's death. Seth died from uremia, congestive heart failure, hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular and renal diseases. He was buried in the Centerville Cemetery on March 23, 1959. Seth's usual occupation listed on his death certificate was as a chef working for himself. He had been living in Salt Lake City for 19 years at the time of his death.

On Seth Bartlett Evans Find A Grave profile page it indicated that he was the son of Jonathan Benner Evans and Josephine Smithson Harmon and was the husband of Myrtle Vivien Butler. Seth's wife, Myrtle, lived another 30 years and passed away on August 13, 1989, and was buried with her husband in the Centerville City Cemetery.

Seth's mother, Josephine Smithson Harmon Evans, was born March 16, 1845, in Monroe County, Mississippi. She passed away October 13, 1927, in Utah. The following history of Josephine was listed on her Find A Grave Memorial:

I was born in Monroe Co., Mississippi March 16, 1845. I left Mississippi the following year with my parents, James Harmon and Mary Ann Blanks Smithson Harmon, and one brother and two sisters for the west via Nauvoo, Illinois. My brother's name was James Bartley and sisters Paralee America and Sarah Elizabeth and one sister was left in Mississippi, Mary Eliza by name. I had one brother John Taylor who was born on the way to Salt Lake. He was born on the same day of the month that the Church was organized only seventeen years later, in Pueblo. My parents' kinsfolks call me "Jo." I was named for the Prophet Joseph Smith only my name is Josephine instead of Joseph.

We arrived in Salt Lake on the 29th day of July 1847. We were to meet the other company of Saints at Fort Laramie but we missed them four days and followed on after them. We had gone to Pueblo the previous year and stayed there during the winter of 1846 and spring of 1847. My father went up to Nauvoo a number of years before and was baptized and had his endowments there. He knew the Prophet Joseph very well. I know many things very wonderful that I heard him tell of the prophet and amongst some of them were his martyrdom.

We had two ox teams and two cows on leaving Nauvoo and arrived here with them. We lived in the old fort square for two years. My father and Dimick Huntington opened up a blacksmith shop in the old fort. After staying there for two years we left for California in the spring of 1849. Lived in Auburn, California for eight years. My parents ran a hotel and it was a gathering place for the Latter-day Saint missionaries. I remember as many as fifteen Elders being there at one time and for eight years we housed and entertained as many as came there. My parents done well in their hotel. Father died there and we came back to Utah. When President Brigham Young called the Saints back we were in Carson City, Nevada. Two years before coming to Utah two of my sisters got married while we were away from Utah.

My father went back to Mississippi by way of Panama and brought the oldest sister to California. We arrived back in Salt Lake with two saddle horses, one two-horse team and a four-mule team. We settled here in Centerville. I was married when I was fifteen years old to Jonathan Benner Evans. He was a Ship Brooklyn Pioneer to California. He arrived there on the 31st of July, 1846. I am the mother of twelve children. I have been a widow over forty-two years. The first death of any of my children was a year ago, Decoration Day May 30, 1925.

My mother taught me to spin and to weave and to make all kinds of clothing from cotton, linen, and wool. We made our own dye stuff and soap, our own flour and bread. I have helped to drive and kill crickets and grasshoppers. My mother was the first president of the Relief Society here in Centerville. I remember the building of the Tabernacle and the Salt Lake Theatre. I was there with my husband on the opening night. I remember most of the prominent historical events in Utah and lots of them of California and Nevada. I will not mention them for I assume that you have them far more accurate than I can write them.

SOURCE: Our Pioneer Heritage

Parents:

James Harmon (1801 - 1851)

Mary Ann Blanks Smithson Harmon (1808 - 1897)

Spouse:

Jonathan Benner Evans (1837 - 1883)

Children:

William Benner Evans (1862 - 1936)

Samuel Nevers Evans (1863 - 1925)

Sarah Josephine Burton (1866 - 1947)

Eliza Jeannette Evans Berry (1867 - 1934)

Monroe S. Evans (1869 - 1951)

John Taylor Evans (1871 - 1951)

Mary Hannah Evans (1873 - 1961)

Hannah Mary Evans (1873 - 1961)

Frederick Williamson Evans (1875 - 1952)

Seth Bartlett Evans (1877 - 1959)

George Emery Evans (1879 - 1945)

Ralph Thompson Evans (1881 - 1965)

Siblings:

Mary Eliza Harmon Nevers (1830 - 1913)

Paralee America Harmon Garn (1835 - 1875)

James Bartley Harman (1843 - 1913)

Josephine Smithson Harmon Evans (1845 - 1927)

John Taylor Harman (1847 - 1926)

Burial: Centerville City Cemetery, Centerville, Davis County, Utah, USA, Plot: A-16-2-7

Maintained by: L Despain

Originally Created by: Utah State Historical Society

Record added: Feb 02, 2000

Find A Grave Memorial# 45294