Evan Layne Perry's Obituary
Evan Layne Perry, 73, passed away peacefully of natural causes at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home in Ogden, Utah on March 29, 2022, after a long struggle with declining health conditions affecting his memory and his physical and mental health. He was surrounded by his six children who shared much love and many songs with him during his final days.
Evan was born December 22, 1948 in Brigham City, Utah to John Wesley and Mary Jacobson Perry. He was the eighth of 10 children who grew up working hard together on a farm in Willard to help support their family. Evan went to Willard Elementary School then continued his schooling in Brigham City, graduating from Box Elder High School in 1967. He was an athletic and musically-talented young man.
Evan served an honorable, full-time mission to Ireland from 1968 to 1970. Instead of being drafted during the Vietnam War when he returned home from his mission, he joined the U.S. Army and spent two years from 1970 to 1972 as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Evan was then accepted as a student at Brigham Young University-Provo but was simultaneously offered a position on the Utah Highway Patrol in Vernal. After a year of service working in Vernal, a certain BYU graduate and first-year school teacher moved in next door. Peggy Jo Lovell caught Evan’s eye. In their first conversation, they discovered they both had dates the next day to the same Carpenters concert in Salt Lake, though obviously not with each other. It wasn’t long before they were each other’s dates from then on out, and one of the Carpenters’ songs even became their own.
Evan and Peggy were married in the Provo Utah Temple on June 21, 1974. They made their home in Willard, Utah and had six beautiful children together: three girls and three boys. Evan supported his children in all of their academic and extracurricular (music, athletics, etc.) activities and worked hard alongside Peggy to see that all six had as many opportunities and experiences as they could provide them.
Evan is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he served in many callings and positions throughout the years. One of Evan’s lifetime highlights was playing basketball with some great friends in the Willard 1 st Ward. His children enjoyed watching their games, and while elbows were occasionally thrown and tempers sometimes flared, handshakes and smiles always prevailed in the end. Evan also enjoyed singing in ward choirs and performing with his wife and family at various events. He had a rich bass voice; he enjoyed sharing it with others. He taught himself to play guitar, chiefly to learn John Denver songs and to do a little composing of his own. Wherever Evan was, a John Denver song could usually be heard nearby.
Though Evan had a variety of jobs throughout his life, his true love was the family fruit and vegetable farm, with its orchards nestled between the majestic Willard mountains and the beautiful Willard Bay. His six children worked many early mornings and long days on the farm alongside him, learning the value of hard work and how to pick every last juicy cherry off a cherry tree. Evan’s example of honesty, integrity, generosity, and service to his fellow man was a legacy he passed on to his children. He was a tireless worker, and while he didn’t have much spare time for additional hobbies or travel, he derived much joy and satisfaction from working the land.
Evan was a resourceful and inventive man with many self-engineered projects around the home, yard, and farm that his family and many neighborhood friends benefitted from: a safer, ground-level trampoline, a two-story sandbox treehouse, a basketball court with painted lines, teeter-totters, picnic tables, etc. These well-crafted items have stood the test of time and are fully-functional even today for use by his grandchildren, over 40 years later. He was always a kid and a jokester at heart and enjoyed playing games. He even invented several games; the prototype of one such game was fun for his kids to goof around with on the kitchen table. His favorite game of all to play was the card game, Rook, as part of a wonderful and long-held tradition with his dear Perry family members.
Evan and Peggy were married for nearly 30 years raising their family, enjoying many wonderful and cherished experiences during those years. Evan struggled during his later life with mental illnesses (bipolar, Alzheimer’s, dementia) that increased in severity with time, interfering with his ability to maintain stability in his marriage and family life, leading to an eventual divorce (with mutual respect and love of their family).
He is survived by his children: Eric (April) Perry, Tara (Marc) Van Pelt, Jacob (Cami) Perry, Trisha Perry, Jodi (Zack Ocampo) Perry, and Jon (Kristi) Perry; grandchildren: Alia (Josh Clawson), Grace, Ethan, Spencer; Richard, Madelyn; Jordan, Braden, Kaylee, and Hallie; former spouse: Peggy; siblings: Mary Catherine, Camille, Bruce, and Brinton; and many nieces and nephews and wonderful friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings: Marilyn, Carolyn, John, Brent, and Hugh (Buddy).
The family warmly thanks the staff at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home and the Sarah Daft Home for their exceptional care of and compassion toward Evan. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to the Church’s Humanitarian Fund.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 9th at 11:00 a.m. at the Willard LDS Building, 80 North 100 West. A viewing will be held that same day from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Willard City Cemetery, 470 North Main Street.
Condolences and memories can be sent to the family at www.premierfuneral.com
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