Shirley Evans Obituary

Part-time Bayfield resident Shirley Norice Hyde Evans died May 25, 2013, in Black Canyon City, Ariz. She died in a car accident. She was 77.

Mrs. Evans was born July 7, 1935, in Salt Lake City. In 1940, John Milton and Helen Hyde adopted her and her brothers, James and Ronald. They adopted her sister, Nola, in 1942.

She graduated from Downey High School in Idaho in 1953 and attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho.

In 1955, she married Seth Parker Evans in the Logan Temple in Utah.

After attending Phoenix College and completing her associate's degree, Mrs. Evans worked as a secretary and had a business making wedding flowers and cakes.

She had been a summer resident of Bayfield for 42 years.

An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mrs. Evans served in many positions with the church, with her favorite being that of ward organist for 63 years.

She loved her family and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the family said.

"All who knew her will miss her music," her family said. She loved music and played piano, organ and clarinet, her family said. She also sang in church choirs and performed in many church plays.

Mrs. Evans had a passion for butterflies and collected them in all forms, her family said.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Seth Evans, in April 2012.

Mrs. Evans is survived by her children RoseAnn Bekay of Durango, Kevin H. Evans of Rio Rancho, N.M., Denise Copeland of Fruitland, N.M., Della Barnett of Willard, Utah, Patrick Natonie of Glendale, Ariz., Patricia Taylor of Henderson, Nev., and Mae Natonie of Pinon, Ariz.; brother Ronald Hyde of West Jordan, Utah; sister, Nola Gittens, of Smithfield, Utah; 23 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 5, 2013, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1690 U.S. Highway 160B in Bayfield. Burial will take place at Pine River Cemetery on County Road 501 in Bayfield.