Curtis Byron Evans, 81, of Libby

Curt was born in Cheyenne, Wyo. to Alice Clare Spratlin and Curtis Edward Oakes on March 30, 1935 at 8:05 p.m. With his family by his side he went home to be with the Lord in Corvallis, Ore. on Sept. 8, 2016 at 12:25 p.m.

Curt lived in a several towns in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, California, and Montana early in life but settled with his mother Alice and step-father Lloyd “Pappy” Evans in Libby in 1949. He helped his mother and step-father build their home up on Whiskey Hill. Curt had a deep love for his mother Alice and she too loved her “bubby” deeply. He attended Libby H.S. from 1949 to 1952. He was a natural, confident leader, starting QB for the football team and elected VP of the junior class. Curt was fun to be around, had many friends and was loyal to them. These traits helped him become a good salesperson later in life.

In 1953 Curt moved back to Buffalo to live with his grandmother Pearl White Spratlin Potts and step-grandfather Bill H. Potts to finish high school. He graduated from Johnson County High School in Buffalo, Wyo. in 1953. In 1955 he enlisted the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1959 with the rank of Corporal. Curt served as a Marine Guard in the 1st Marine Division at Lake Mead, and also a member of the 2nd Marine Airwing as an electrician.

Curt was adventurous and hard working. He had several business ventures, including cutting Christmas trees to sell in California (barely making it back to Montana!), owning a couple of phone stores in Spokane, Wash., selling pot-bellied pigs in Toledo, Ore. and finally his 26 year career as a leading salesman for Texas Refinery Corporation Protective Coatings Division.

Curt had a good heart and cared about his siblings Chuck, Cile, and Kelly. His brother Chuck says the best thing to happen to Curt was meeting his wife Patty in Spokane. They married Oct. 3, 1974. She gave him direction and prayed for him, which led to his becoming a Christian on Jan. 4, 1984. Curt considered that the day he was really born and began living his life in service to God.

After leaving his partying life behind, Curt became an ordained minister. Following a health scare in 1987, he and his wife Patty moved to Toledo with their daughters Susan and Elizabeth. They served the community through their church and their ministry “Covenant Faith Ministries” for as long as they lived in Toledo. He was a Toledo Boomer Booster club president, assistant coach of the golf team and loyal fan of all the kids from Toledo. He loved following the adventures and lives of his children and grandchildren.

Curt also loved the Washington State Cougars and was perhaps their most loyal fan. He could often be seen cheering on the various Cougs Athletics live-streamed from his computer. He enjoyed golfing, fishing and worked hard to remodel their home on Cook Creek where they watched the salmon return each fall.

Curt most recently attended Calvary Chapel in Toledo and enjoyed theological discussions and teaching. He read Psalm 91 every day with his girls and lived by Psalm 180, praising the Lord to his last day and with his last breath. Curt wants all to know the joy of faith in Jesus. He lived the last 32 years of his life following Jesus’ example in Luke 4:18 — “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Also, Romans 10 verses 9 and 10: “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Curt was preceded in death by his mother Alice Evans, stepfather L. Lloyd Evans, birth father, Curtis Oakes, stepson Scott Rhoads, and several friends. He is survived by his brothers Charles Evans and Kelly Evans, and sister Cile (Bob) Rose; his wife Patricia Evans; their children Susan (Trevor) Trachsel, Elizabeth (Jason) Worman; and his children from prior marriages Stephanie Evans, Trish (Gregg) Hack-Rubenstein, Laurel Evans, and Billy Evans; his grandchildren Alex, Kaity, Shamirah, Julia, Kalena, Danielle, Heather, and Kelly; step-grandchildren Shawn and Amanda; and great-grandchildren Bridger, Iliana, Julian, and Jade.

A service with military honors will be held on Sept. 26, 11:30 a.m. at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Ore. All who knew Curt are welcome. Arrangements are being entrusted to Bateman Funeral Home in Newport, Ore. A memorial website page is located at www.batemanpacificview.com/notices/Curtis-Evans.