Vernon Evans

Services are pending at this time and will be announced when complete Vernon Emerson Evans, age 92, of Safford, AZ passed away June 6, 2014 at his home with his loving family at his side. Vernon was born in Elmont, Kansas on February 22, 1922 the second child of Emerson Henry Evans and Vera Mrytle Rogers Evans. Vernon grew up on the family farm north of Topeka, Kansas where he attended Fairview Grade School and Seaman High School. He served in World War II for 38 months with the 115th Engineer Combat Battalion of the 40th Infantry Division (known as the Rattlesnakes)of the Army in the South Pacific, and received nine bronze stars for his partition. On February 15, 1948, he married Jean Evelyn Chandler in Topeka, Kansas. He worked as a salesman of automotive parts and welding supplies from 1946 to 1982. From 1983 until his retirement in 1994, he worked as Foreman of the North Topeka Drainage District. Evans was a charter member of the Soldier Township Fire Department and served as a volunteer fireman for 42 years. He also served as treasurer of the Soldier Township Board for 26 years, Secretary-Treasurer of the Kansas Association of Townships for two years, and served on the Topeka Shawnee County Metropolitan Planning Commission for four years. He was honored by the Kansas Legislature in 1989 for 52 years of service to Soldier Township, Topeka, Kansas. Vernon moved to Safford in 1994 and was a member of the Safford First United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and two daughters Janice Evans and Joyce Evans, now of Safford, one grandson, Zachary Mathewson of Venice, California, one sister, Maxine Evans Lowe of Topeka, Kansas, a niece, Diane Lindeman of Lawrence, Kansas, and nephews, John Lowe, of topeka, Kansas and Dean Berquist, of Naperville, Illinois In lieu of flowers the family requests donations e made to Safford First United Methodist Church. Services are being held Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Safford.