Paul Evans

 EVANS, Paul 

May 8th, 1931 - August 24th, 

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Paul Evans announce his sudden passing on August 24th, 2024. Paul was 93 years young. 

Paul was predeceased by his loving wife and high school sweetheart, Jean, just nine months earlier after celebrating 69 years of marriage. Paul was the always supportive and loving father and friend to his three daughters, Dr. Nancie Evans (Alan Risen), Patti Scott (Michael White), and Jackie Evans. He was immensely proud of and adored his five grandchildren, Jeffrey, Mallory (Luke), Maggie, Pamela, and Adam. In February of this year, he was overjoyed to welcome his first great grandchild, Evan (Mallory and Luke). He was never happier than when the whole family was together. 

Born May 8th,1931, Paul was the only child of William Graham “Klinck” Evans and Violet Mary Mahony. 

Paul often recounted the story of before agreeing to a blind date with Jean that he went to check her out and upon first seeing her walk down the stairs at Malvern Collegiate in Toronto, all he could say was “Wow”. They married in September 1954 as he began his final year of Electrical Engineering at U of T and lived in a basement apartment at Paul’s parents' house in Scarborough. Soon after graduation, Paul accepted a job with Shell Oil which took them to Texas for a year before settling in Calgary. Wanting to be closer to family as they started their own, they moved back to Ontario where Paul began a long and successful career with Dupont Canada. Over the years, as Paul’s career advanced it meant many moves for the family including Prescott, Sarnia, Kingston and Oshawa, where he was plant manager at both the Whitby and Ajax locations before eventually retiring at the age of 56. Paul was an active member in the Rotary Club of Whitby. During those years, Paul and Jean made many close and lifelong friends and valued those friendships greatly. Many of them continue to this day. After retirement from Dupont, Paul taught business courses part-time at Durham College in Oshawa. 

Eventually Paul and Jean relocated permanently to their home on Bass Lake, where many great family memories were made. They became active golfers and lawn bowlers and were members of various local community groups including the Washago Seniors, the Probus Club of Orillia and the Orillia Lawn Bowling Club. Through winter months spent at their condo in Top of the World, Clearwater, and their extensive travels around the world, Paul and Jean made many good friends along the way. 

Paul loved new experiences and challenges and was a lifelong learner, and the ultimate handyman. He was our family’s “Tech Guru” and was the first in the family to own an Apple Watch at age 86. Using those computer skills, Paul brought so much joy to so many over the years with the special personalized greeting cards he would create. 

Paul introduced downhill skiing to the family, and Jean, agreeing to learn to ski in her forties, was a trooper. He was an avid fisherman, often heading out early in the morning with the family poodle Muffett on the bow of the boat, or just casting a line off the end of the dock as the sun set over Bass Lake, his true Happy Place. He earned that quality time fishing alone after many years spent baiting his daughters’ hooks and removing the fish they caught. 

Paul lovingly looked after Jean at home for the first ten years of her battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He remained a dedicated and devoted advocate for her during her last seven years while in long term care at Trillium Manor. 

Paul was extremely grateful, as are we his family, for the support and friendship he received from so many, especially in these past couple of years. We would also like to acknowledge and thank his special friend and companion of recent years, who just so happens to also be named Jean (Trelford), for adding so much joy and happiness to his life and all of ours. She will always be an important part of our family. 

A celebration of Paul’s life will be held on Saturday October 19th, 2024, at Hawk Ridge Golf Course, 1153 Hurlwood Lane, Severn, Ontario from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, with tributes commencing at 2:30 pm. If desired, memorial donations to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, The Alzheimer’s Society of Simcoe County or a charity of your choice would be gratefully appreciated and can be made at the Celebration of Life or by contacting Mundell Funeral Home. 

Paul will be remembered for many things including his wisdom, strong work ethic, generosity, thoughtfulness and gratitude. Which translates to…pause and think before you speak or act, just do it, give of yourself when you can, do something nice for someone else, and always be grateful. 

We were lucky to have you in our lives as long as we did, Dad. Now, go find Mom.