David Ray Evans, of Mashpee, Massachusetts died on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, after a short illness. He was born May 9, 1942, in Pittsburg, Kansas, to Olin W. & Gertrude A. (Gerwert) Evans.
A self-avowed “rock hound” as a child, he received a Bachelor of Science in Geology at the University of Kansas. After meeting his mentor and friend, William M. Bass, founder of “The Body Farm,” David earned a Master’s degree in Anthropology at KU and was an authority on the Italian glass beads used as money by the pre-historic Indians of the Upper Midwest. He went on to direct the Missouri Archaeological Society where he helped lobby many current historic preservation laws through the U.S. Congress. His company, High Plains Consulting, in Laramie, Wyoming, specialized in the historic preservation of significant archaeological sites in Wyoming and Colorado. He was married to Joyce (Blessant) Evans from 1965 to 1991. He married Martha (David) Evans in 1993.
A 50-year Boy Scouter, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout, was an Order of the Arrow, and served in every volunteer capacity in Scouting. However, his proudest achievement in Scouting was that he was a mentor and guide to more than 40 Eagle Scouts in Missouri, Wyoming, and Cape Cod.
He is survived by his wife, Martha, and four children: Geoff of Boynton Beach, Florida; Greg (Gretchen) of West Palm Beach, Florida; Jason of Wellington, Colorado; Susan Peters of Findlay, Ohio; and two adopted children Celeste of Falmouth; and David of Mashpee; and three grandsons. The family suggests memorials to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Graveside Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Highland Park Cemetery, 2025 S. Broadway St., Pittsburg, KS 66762.
