Gerald Evans

Gerald "Gene" Evans, age 73, a lifetime resident of Union County died February 17 at Grande Ronde Retirement Residence in La Grande.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday June 2 at the Union Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Valley.

Mr. Evans was born March 21, 1934 to Jason and Phyllis (Jones) Evans in Elgin. He was raised on a farm west of Union and attended Union public schools. Gene was active in school sports and was chosen to play on the Shriner's Football team in 1953 which was played in Pendleton, Oregon. In the summers he worked on the Davis Bros. Cattle Co. Ranch out of Union. Gene was the first person to drive a tractor pulling a mowing machine on the Davis Ranch. Before that the haying was done by horses. He also worked on the Harold and LaWana Schwebke farm outside of Imbler. He liked to hunt and fish.

In 1954-55 he served in the military as a light truck driver in artillery in Japan for 19 months of his army career. When he returned to Union he purchased
Gene's Shoe Store on Adams in La Grande and later sold the store and purchased Oregon Trail Trader, also on Adams in La Grande, from his uncle John Hammel. He loved to travel and go to gun shows. He collected old toys, guns, coins and many wonderful friends. When he retired he sold the Oregon Trail Trader to Les Henderson and moved into the Grande Ronde Retirement Residence. He was a lifetime member of the Union County Museum Society and the Veteran's of Foreign Wars. He loved to watch high school sports. He especially loved to watch his great cousins play sports.

Mr. Evans is survived by a cousin, Dennis Langford and his family and many close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jason and Phyllis Evans.