Newspaper clippings · March 2010Estimated date
Kevin Cody remembers artist and activist Gordon Evans
Easy Reader obituary recalls Evans's art, family, civic interests and marriage.
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Transcribed from the scans and checked against them by Claude. Typed text comes first; handwritten notes follow it. [illegible] marks words that cannot be read and [?] an uncertain reading.
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Artist, activist Gordon Evans remembered for his passions
by Kevin Cody
For over 50 years Gordon Evans sculpted and painted in the studio behind the Valley Park Drive home that he and his wife purchased shortly after World War II. Evans died Saturday, March 20, following a short illness. He was 83.
He and his wife Betty met at Dorsey High and married in 1946, after he returned from the war in the South Pacific. The couple moved to Paris for several years so Gordon could study art, and then returned to Hermosa, where Betty had grown up.
Gordon and Betty Evans. (Photo by Hanson Studios)
Evans devoted himself to painting and sculpture after retiring from Aerospace Corporation, where he was a technical illustrator. His two daughters, Suzanne and Jeanne also became artists.
Dorsey High classmate and lifelong friend Les Guthrie recalled Evans as passionate about art and cantankerous about everything else, even in his youth. "He'd argue nearly to the death, and if it looked like he was losing, he'd say, 'What do I know, I'm just an artist.'"
Evans was an avid waterman through much of his life, a passion that led his son Bob to found Force Fins, a company that manufacturers swim fins used by competitive body surfers and marine military forces, world wide. But Evans stopped going in the ocean after becoming convinced it was polluted. He was a fitness buff before fitness was popular, and bicycled regularly to his Aerospace Corporation job in El Segundo. But he never stopped railing against discourteous drivers and blamed his thinning hair on the auto fumes he inhaled over the decades.
Upon retirement, he devoted himself to sculpting bronze busts of his friends, at no cost. But one of those friends had to settle for a clay bust, painted a faux marble green. When the disappointed friend asked Evans why he hadn't gotten a bronzed bust, Evans answered,
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"You didn't care enough to show up half the time to model. I didn't care enough to bronze it."
Evans' wife Betty authored nearly a dozen cookbooks, most of which her husband illustrated with simple, but skillfully executed line drawings.
Evans' passions extended to his community. He frequently addressed the city council on issues that would impact his tightly knit valley neighborhood. City council minutes reflect his support for a neighborhood stop sign, and his strong objection to a hillside development behind his home and a new gym at Hermosa Valley school.
Evans was preceded in death by his wife Betty. He is survived by his son Bob, daughters Suzanne and Jeanne, and grandchildren Alex, Gordon, Zachery and Evelyn. At his request there will be no memorial service. ER
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Source scan page 17
Artist, activist Gordon Evans remembered for his passions by Kevin Cody death, and if it looked like he was los- F for over 50 years Gordon Evans sculpted and painted ing, he'd say, 'What do I know, I'm just an artist." in the studio behind the Evans was an avid waterman Valley Park Drive home that he through much of his life, a passion and his wife purchased that led his son Bob to shortly after World found Force Fins, a War II. Evans died company that manufac- Saturday, March 20, turers swim fins used following a short ill- by competitive body ness. He was 83. surfers and marine mil- He and his wife itary forces, world Betty met at Dorsey wide. But Evans High and married in stopped going in the 1946, after he returned ocean after becoming from the war in the convinced it was pollut- South Pacific. The cou- ed. He was a fitness ple moved to Paris for buff before fitness was several years popular, and bicycled SO Gordon could study Gordon and Betty Evans. regularly to his art, and then returned Aerospace Corporation to Hermosa, where Betty had job in El Segundo. But grown up. he never stopped railing against dis- Evans devoted himself to painting courteous drivers and blamed his and sculpture after retiring from thinning hair on the auto fumes he Aerospace Corporation, where he inhaled over the decades. was a technical illustrator. His two Upon retirement, he devoted daughters, Suzanne and Jeanne also himself to sculpting bronze busts of became artists. his friends, at no cost. But one of Dorsey High classmate and lifelong those friends had to settle for a clay friend Les Guthrie recalled Evans as bust, painted a faux marble green. passionate about art and cantanker- When the disappointed friend ous about everything else, even in his asked Evans why he hadn't gotten youth. "He'd argue nearly to the a bronzed bust, Evans answered, "You didn't ( up half the ti care enough 1 Evans' wife a dozen cook her husband i but skillfully ( Evans' pas community. addressed th that would i valley neigh minutes refl neighborhoo strong object opment behi gym at Hern Evans was his wife Bett son Bob, d Jeanne, anc Gordon, Zac request ther service. ER
Source scan page 18
"You didn't care enough to show up half the time to model. I didn't care enough to bronze it." Evans' wife Betty authored nearly a dozen cookbooks, most of which her husband illustrated with simple, but skillfully executed line drawings. Evans' passions extended to his community. frequently addressed the city council on issues that would impact his tightly knit valley neighborhood. City council minutes reflect his support for a neighborhood stop sign, and his strong objection to a hillside devel- opment behind his home and a new gym at Hermosa Valley school. Evans was preceded in death by his wife Betty. He is survived by his son Bob, daughters Suzanne and Jeanne, and grandchildren Alex, Gordon, Zachery and Evelyn. At his request there will be no memorial service. ER