Merf D. Evans

Mervin Donivan Evans passed peacefully at his home in Parker August 21, 2019. He was surrounded by family. Mervin was born to Nestle Lee & Emma C (Bunyard) Evans September, 1920 in Ft. Morgan, CO. He was preceded in death by his Sister Mildred Rawson, Vernon N Evans and his beautiful bride of 60 years Florence Rose (Archer) (of Waukegan, Illinois) Evans. Born in September 1920 in Ft. Morgan, Colorado, growing up during the Great Depression, serving in the Navy in the South Pacific during WWII.

He soon would have had a 99^th birthday, and will be remembered as someone who tap-danced through life, always happy to welcome someone else to the floor and teach them the steps.

Merf attended West High School in Denver. He was a member of the wrestling team participating in State finals. He also was a member of the Civil Air Patrol, and was Captain ROTC. In 1937 He was also a member of the Army-Air Force Colorado National Guard.

He joined the US Navy in February 1942 and served on the USS Rawlins in the South Pacific 1942-1945. His unit would set up communication lines before the invasions. He held the rank of Electrician's Mate First Class aboard the USS Rawlins. He was also put in charge of ship's entertainment, which included staging boxing matches, and finding and trading movies with other ships when they encountered them or made port. Merf participated in 15 significant deployments that included New Hebrides, Guadalcanal, Palau, Ulithi Atol, Tinian Northern Mariana Island, Saipan, Iwo Jima, the Solomon Islands, Philippines (Manilla), Taiwan, made two separate landings on Okinawa including the fighting for the vital airfield, and Tokyo Bay. Due to his ship's action in the Pacific, it was honored during the surrender by Japan by tying up next to the Missouri battleship in Tokyo Bay to witness the signing.

After an honorable discharge from the US Navy in 1945, Merf enrolled in courses at Colorado A&M (CSU) in Ft. Collins and was asked by Coach Hughes to play on the football team, which he did for a short time. He left the school to manage a movie theater in Scottsbluff, NE.

Throughout high school and after WWII, Merf managed and later owned several movie theaters in La Junta, Ft. Collins, Scottsbluff, Ordway, Craig, Johnstown, and Lakewood. He started a company in Colorado that owned the Lakewood Theater and Wadsworth Drive In, and with his father's help he invented and made the first cinematic lens. Some of his and Florence's theater marketing promotions in Craig, Colorado, included bringing in screen actors to promote a film, including Ann Baxter and Rebel Randall (Voice of America).

He was appointed by Governor Steve McNichols to be executive director of the Colorado Highway Safety Counsel, and pioneered highway traffic safety engineering concepts and driver safety program in high schools in Colorado, including working with the Colorado legislature making changes in bus driver safety education, seat belt regulations, and motorcycle helmet laws which saved the lives of hundreds of people. His leadership was rewarded by a subsequent appointment as Executive Director by Governors John Love, Johnny Vanderhoff, and Richard Lamm. In 1969 he accepted an appointment as the Program Director for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). He was recognized for his pioneering work with highway safety leaders working with Governors and State Patrol officers in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida.

While still working at NHTSA, Merf obtained a Bachelor of Laws from LaSalle Extension University in their pioneering off-campus program graduating with honors in 1971.

Upon retiring from government work, he and his wife Florence successfully invested in and managed real estate properties in Georgia and Colorado.

Merf became recertified as a Private Pilot continuing a path he began in high school. He and Florence purchased a Cessna 172 which they flew all over the U.S., including to Florida and to California, attending AOPA conventions, and sometimes with children or grandchildren on board.

Merf served as Sgt-at-Arms for the Parker American Legion Post 1864.

Merf passed on peacefully at his home, surrounded, supported, and prayed over by his kids, and grandkids. He will be greatly missed.

Merf and Florence's proudest legacy leaves behind three children and 2 loving daughters-in-law, 8 grandchildren and spouses, and 4 great-grandchildren including: former State Senator John (Jack) Evans and wife Mary Ann Evans, with sons Evan Edward Evans and John-Paul Evans; Attorney James (Jim) Evans and wife Diane Evans, with son Michael (Athena) Evans and their daughters Athena Cymia Evans and Anastasia Evans, son Patrick (Nicole) Evans and their daughters Nora Evans and Lily Evans; son Daniel (Danielle) Evans, and daughter Jennifer (Jake) Evans Bennett; and Rosemary Evans Woodford with son Richard Garnett Woodford, Jr. and daughter Katherine Rose Woodford.

Merf asked that in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Boys Town, Nebraska https://secure.boystown.org/donate/?view=

Funeral Mass: August 31, 2019 10:00 am

Our Lady of the Visitation
34201 County Road 33
Kiowa, CO 80117

https://ourladyofthevisitation.diocs.org/