Evan Mecham |
| Posted 2008-02-26 by Edward Peed |
| Evan Mecham, 83, of Gilbert, Arizona, passed away February 21, 2008, in Mesa, Arizona. He was born May 12, 1924, in Duchesne, Utah, the fifth son of Adelbert and Ina H. Mecham. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Florence Lambert; brothers Wayne, Willard and Arnold; sister Jean Squires; Children: Suzanne (Scott) Haycock; Dennis (Linda); Christine (Tom) Marsh; Eric; Teresa (Greg) Allen; Kyle (Lori Ann); and Lance (Tawnya); 29 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Delmar. He attended Utah State University, Creighton University, and Arizona State University, majoring in Business Management and Economics. He was a combat veteran of World War II, flying photo reconnaissance and fighter escort missions over Europe with the 8th Air Force. In March 1945, at age 20, the P-51 Mustang he was piloting was shot down over Germany. Injured while bailing out of the aircraft, he was captured and held as a POW until being liberated by Patton's 3rd Army. He was subsequently awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal. Following six weeks in a U.S. Army hospital in France, he returned home and married his high school sweetheart, Florence Lambert, on June 11, 1945, in the LDS temple in Salt Lake City. After successfully operating a Pontiac Agency franchise in Ajo, Arizona, he moved the franchise to Glendale, Arizona, where he owned and operated Mecham Pontiac for many years. He was elected to the Arizona State Senate in 1960. Runs for the U.S. Senate and Governorship of Arizona were unsuccessful until 1986, when he was elected Governor. He authored several books and was publisher of the American Newspaper Group, which published daily and weekly newspapers in the metro Phoenix area and in Tampa, Florida. He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. Active in the LDS Church throughout his life, he served faithfully in many leadership and service positions, including Bishop, High Counselor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and Home Teacher. In his later years, he found great joy in service as a worker at the LDS temple in Mesa. He never shrank from a challenge, his faith never waivered during adversity, and his burning desire to see America return to its constitutional foundations of State's rights, personal freedoms and integrity of purpose never diminished. A phrase he learned early and applied throughout his life was "failure never comes until you quit trying." His courage and indomitable spirit will be sorely missed. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 1, 2008, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4901 W. Union Hills Drive, Glendale, AZ, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona at a later date. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Meldrum Mortuary of Mesa. See Also: Find A Grave |
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