George Wilfred Evans – born June 11, 1928, died June 8, 2019. Surrounded by love, in the room and far beyond, George passed away peacefully on a sunny, June evening, three days short of his 91st birthday. And what a full and happy
91 years they have been.
He became a teacher at 16, a profession that meant he touched the lives of generations of students and colleagues around the province.
He counted himself a lucky man: he said his secret was marrying well.
George is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Helen, daughters Heather (Bob), Michele, son Adam (Nadine) and adored grandchildren Michaela, Renn, Hunter and Erin as well as nieces and nephews, close family friend Doris Short and other family.
He had a busy life, from his first teaching positions in Grand Bay West and Plum Point where he was also essentially doctor, lawyer, letter writer, lay reader for the community to his Vice-Principal position at Queen Elizabeth Regional High School. And that was just his day job. He was active in the PTA, he led the local Army Cadets for years, he was lay reader in the Anglican Church for 25 years. When he retired from teaching, he did even more, sitting on the executive of the Retired Teachers Association, singing tenor in the CBS NTA Centennial Choir, supporting Queen’s College, learning French, volunteering with the Cancer Society, delivering Meals on Wheels (his last delivery was only five years ago – he loved being of service to the ‘old folks’).And, of course he worked on his golf game along with his favourite partner, Helen.
He was a generous, kind and, perhaps most of all, engaged man, fascinated by the people and events around him. He loved just talking to people, finding common ground and listening. That was evident everyday from his interactions at the grocery store to his rapt attention to his grandchildren’s knock-knock jokes and school, work and travel tales.
He himself was a well-known storyteller, describing his early life growing up in Codroy in a big family, through his stint as a forestry surveyor, a Deputy returning Officer for the 1948 Confederation votes and short-lived (one season) as a rower in the St. John’s Regatta. At times, it seemed he knew or had taught everyone, or their parents.
It’s hard to find words to convey how full of life he was right up until his final days. The world seemed brighter, more fun when he was a part of it – that was his gift to us and an inspiration but it also means we will miss him enormously.
Special thanks to the staff at the Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre and the staff at the Miller Centre Palliative Care Unit. for their care and kindness.
If you chose, a donation can be made in his name to the Newfoundland and Labrador Retired Teachers Foundation for Children’s Charities or any charity of your choice.
In typical fashion, George Evans left instructions on how to close out this message. It is a quote from Tennyson: And on my passing: Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me, AND MAY THERE BE NO MOURNING OF THE BAR, WHEN I PUT OUT TO SEA. Visitation in the James J. Hickey Memorial Funeral Home, Kelligrews on Monday, 7 pm – 9 pm, Tuesday, 2 pm – 4 pm & 7 pm – 9 pm. Funeral service will take place from All Saints Anglican Church, Foxtrap on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 11 am. Inurnment in the Anglican Cemetery, Dunn’s Hill Road, Foxtrap. To sign the guest registry, or to send a message of condolence, please visit www.hickeysfuneralhome.ca
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de George W Evans Saturday June 8th 2019..
Décès pour la Ville: Conception-Bay-South, Province: T-N