Mary Helen Evans

Courtesy photo

+ Enlarge

Mary Helen Evans

August 25, 1929 ~ October 23, 2024

Mary Evans, 95, devoted wife, loving mother and unrivaled friend to many, passed away peacefully October 23, 2024, after a long and blessed life of family, friends and faith.

Mary was born August 25, 1929, to John and Helen (Wisniewski) Timbers in South St. Paul, Minnesota. Mary studied at the College of St. Catherine, where she received a degree in education to become a teacher. She married the love of her life, Bob Evans, a Navy man and footballer, in 1953 and they enjoyed 55 years of blissful marriage together. In the first five years of marriage, Bob’s career in the grain industry led the couple to move five times with their young family, from Kansas City to San Francisco to Utah. In 1958, they settled down in Ogden, Utah, where they raised their seven children and created their forever home. In their later years, Bob and Mary also rooted in the Boulders community of Carefree, Arizona.

Mary was a devoted Catholic her whole life. She and Bob helped establish Holy Family Parish in South Ogden and were active parishioners. Bob and Mary were also consistent supporters of the St. Joseph Catholic Schools, where all seven of their children attended, and they helped found the St. Joseph’s Booster Club. Bob and Mary’s philanthropic contributions were instrumental in the restoration of Cathedral of the Madeleine, the creation of the new building for Holy Family Catholic Church and the founding of the Notre Dame Clinic at Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Haiti.

Mary is survived by her six daughters, Meg (Steve) Chambers, Joan Ahlf, Susan Evans, Patty (Todd) Bradley, Nancy Evans (Joe Hazel), and Barbara (Jeff) Wogoman; her daughter-in-law, Kelli Evans; her 19 grandchildren, Skip, John, Elise, Lael, Sarah, Bridget, Becca, Rachael, Clay, Michelle, Christina, Leo, David, Steffanie, Lauren, Jacquelyn, Matthew, Evalyn and Axel; her soon-to-be 10 great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Barbara Mers and Jane Schmidt. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert; her son John; granddaughter Rose; her parents John and Helen Timbers; and her sisters Polly and Margaret. She will always be loved and missed.

Special thanks to all the nurses and staff of Enhabit Hospice Care for their compassionate services, and our deepest love and gratitude to Vilma Pongchat for her dedicated and loving care of Mary.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on November 2, 2024, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Ogden. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch.