John R. Evans, 83, of South Portland, ME and formerly a long time resident of Southborough, passed away on October 3rd, 2019 at his new home, surrounded by his family, after a long courageous battle with cancer.
He was the loving and devoted husband of the late Mercedes (Halley) Evans who passed away in 2011.
Born and raised in St John’s, Newfoundland, he was the son of the late Ronald and Margaret (Jewer) Evans.
After marrying Mercedes, they moved to Southborough to raise their family. John was the owner and operator of Evans Courier Service for over 30 years.
One of his favorite pastimes was playing games with his family. In recent years he enjoyed a regular schedule of playing pickleball and Skip-Bo with his dear friends. John’s other interests included hockey, tennis, fishing, boating and being outdoors. He was a lover of good food, most especially fish and chips and Chinese. The greatest joys in his life came from being a husband, father and grandfather (Papa). Second to that was his love of Newfoundland, a place he never ceased calling ‘Home’ and where he visited as often as he could. Above all else, it was his faith and Christian walk that was always his center.
John’s quirky sense of humor and playfulness defined his unique likability. There was hardly a person he came across that wasn’t charmed by his kind and lighthearted nature. He had a way of saying just a few word, in his own special way, that would lift a person’s spirits, be it a friend, a family member or a stranger.
He is survived by his children, Diane Bacon and Robert Evans, and his wife, Nancy, all of Portland, ME; his siblings, Doug Evans of NFLD; Marion Fojan and Barbara Struck both of MI; his granddaughters, Michaela and Andrea Bacon, Lindsey (Bacon) Kwarteng and her husband DJ. He also leaves several nieces and nephews and was especially close to his nephew, Jim Halley, and his wife Kristin.
He is predeceased by his brother, Gordon Evans.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, October 15, from 11am to 1pm at the Morris Funeral Home, 40 Main Street, Southborough. A private funeral service will immediately follow.
Burial will be in the Southborough Rural Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in his memory to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, Brookline, MA 02215.
To leave words of condolence to the family, please visit www.morrisSouthboroughfuneral.com
(Obituary and photo via Morris Funeral Home.)
