Richard R. Evans

Graveside services for Richard R. Evans, 88, of Purcell, formerly of Dallas, Texas, were held Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell. Services were under the direction of Wilson-Little Funeral Home of Purcell. Mr. Evans died February 10, 2015 in Purcell. Richard Roy Evans was born December 12, 1926 in Oklahoma City, the son of Roy T. Evans and Marian Althea Brown Evans. His father worked for the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company and the family lived in towns around Oklahoma including Bartlesville, Stillwater and Dewey. In 1940 the family moved to Norman where Mr. Evans graduated from Norman High School in 1944. At the age of 17 he entered the University of Oklahoma but his college career was interrupted by World War II and he entered the U.S. Navy in November. He served in Tsing Tao, China as a signalman third class. After his discharge from the Navy in 1946, he returned to Norman and the University of Oklahoma. He graduated in 1951 with a degree in petroleum engineering. Following graduation he began a lifelong career with Sunray Oil Corp. that later merged with Sun Oil Co. He began his career at Victoria, Texas, where he met his wife, Ruth F. Fossati. They were married on Oct. 22, 1952. They lived in various towns where he was transferred with the company including Falfurris, Texas, where their son, Richard, was born, Hope, Ark., where their daughter, Gracie, was born, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Houston. Mr. Evans enjoyed hunting, baseball and following the OU Sooners. His grandchildren, who affectionately called him Popi, were the apple of his eye and he and "Fufi" were crazy about their great-grandson, John Denny (Jack) Montgomery IV and great-granddaughter, Lane Elizabeth Montgomery. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Marian Evans; his wife of 60 years, Ruth Evans on Sept. 30, 2013 and a sister-in-law, Grace Fossati. Survivors include his son, Richard T. Evans and his wife, Chris, of Tulsa; daughter, Gracie Montgomery and her husband, John D. Jr., of Purcell; three grandchildren, Rachael Evans of Salem, Mass., John Denny Montgomery III and wife, Emily, of Purcell and Matt Montgomery of Norman; one great-grandson, John Denny (Jack) Montgomery IV of Purcell and one great-granddaughter, Lane Elizabeth Montgomery of Purcell. Memorial contributions may be made to the Purcell Public School Foundation, 919 1/2 N. Ninth, Purcell, OK 73080 or the Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1280, Purcell, OK 73080.

Richard R. Evans

December 12, 1926 - February 10, 2015