EVANS, Robert R.

Robert R. Evans Slipped the surly bonds of earth on June 28, 2010. Born in River Edge, NJ in 1932, Bob followed his cousins Fred and Arlene Eiserman west to college at Utah State University to pursue his dreams. Earning his private pilot's license, he enlisted in the National Guard (Army), serving two years in the Korean War as an airplane navigator. Upon his return, he became a forest fire smoke jumper, joined by lifelong friend, Ron Gunther. Bob's sister, Alice also moved west to be a part of the family tradition at USU. Completing his BS in Journalism ('56), Bob led the USU student newspaper as editor, was a Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity officer, and a 2nd Lt. AF ROTC graduate. Bob resigned his commission and began work as a reporter for the Logan Herald Journal, then the Salt Lake Tribune, covering northern Utah, while pursuing an MS in Sociology. As a Sig Ep advisor, Bob led the building campaign to construct a new USU chapter house. A PhD from University of Wisconsin soon followed, where his post-doctoral work and publications in smoking, health and behavior were some of the first which linked smoking and negative health outcomes. Relocating to Tucson, Bob was a sociology faculty member at the University of Arizona, focusing on group dynamics and sociology of sexuality. "Publish or perish," he published two sociology compendiums. Bob fell in love with computers during this time, announcing his youngest daughter's birth on a computer punch card. He transitioned his keen interests in people and behaviors to his counseling practice with his wife, Carol Davis Evans, for more than 25 years. Leaders in the field, their collaboration was a rich and fulfilling one, blending their love for each other with helping many others. During this time, Bob was a kind and loving caregiver for his mother-in-law, Evelyn Wood, for years after her stroke. Bob and Carol shared their lives wholeheartedly, traveling the US and the world together with an ever-present camera bag, insulin pump, and bird book. Bob was a man of many words, mostly large and multi-syllabic. He valued grammar and punctuation, ideas and dreams, working with his hands, technology and gadgets, education and pursuit of thought. He loved reading the New York Times, sharing current events and world happenings, and living each moment. Despite managing type one diabetes, he was quick and active, full of energy and zip, and was always the first to say, "Let's go!" Bob was a doting and devoted husband to Carol for nearly 34 years; proud father of daughters, Lori Stratton (Chip), Teri Basteen (John), Cami Cwik (John), and stepsons, Doug Davis (Jodi), Stanton Davis, and Quin Davis (Hillary Beck); grandfather, of Drake, Saylor, and Ainsley Stratton, Zachary, Braden, and Lucas Basteen, Zane Cwik, Joey and Ariana Davis, and Josephine Riggs; and sadly predeceased by cherished stepdaughter, Rose Davis. Bob's love of adventure and flight never waned, from family vacations in the Cessna to wanting to share the skies with his grandson. We will all miss Bob's keen intellect, his observations, his sparkling blue eyes and crooked smile, and his unfailing energy. Our family wishes to thank the teams on UMC five East and six East for the gentle, compassionate care and tender mercies shown to Bob. Private family services will be held. "Up, up the long, delirious burning blue, I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace." N-niner-niner-2-2-bravo. Clear prop! Published in the Tucson Newspapers on July 11, 2010