David Oman Evans

David Oman Evans, our loving father, grandfather, great-grand father, brother, and friend, passed away Friday, January 22, 2010, after enduring multiple extended illnesses. His life was exemplary of endurance, hard work, humility, and kind generosity. He was cheerful and solicitous of others to the end.
David was born March 26, 1931, in Mesa, Arizona, of LDS Mexican Colonial pioneers. He was taught how to work hard under the Arizona sun, milking cows and working the fields from pre-dawn to dusk. The second child of Marius O. and Mary Helena Evans, David remained close to his siblings until his death.
He was preceded in death by his brother John Reese, and is survived by his sister Vera, and brothers Arza and Charles.
His parents moved to Murray, Utah from Southern Arizona when David was in high school and he played football at Murray High School, studied, and worked on cars. He was mechanically inclined from a young boy and easily mastered most construction trades, including the making of fine furniture. He met June S.C. Thorup at a church dance, who waited for him while he served an LDS mission to Oakland, California (1950-1952). They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on November 21, 1952.
David was a devoted husband. He loved and cared for her more than 53 years until June passed away on Valentine's Day, 2006. He earned a degree in Sociology and later a Master of Social Work, both from the University of Utah. In the 1960's David successfully managed a chain of hospitals and care centers in the greater Los Angeles area, giving his children a prosperous foundation and sweet California memories. It was an exotic life of palm trees, swimming, matching shirts, and joy. David and June gave birth to nine children.
In his final months, he expressed great desire to meet his stillborn daughter, Sue, on the other side. A daughter Heidi and seven sons survive him: David Oman Jr., Scott, Mark, Boyd, Van, Richard, and Barry. He returned to construction in the early 1970's and taught his sons how to work. There were many long summer days and weeks in the scorching desert sun framing walls or metal buildings and many frozen winters outside with one's thumb too numb to notice if it was hit it with a hammer. David's philosophy was: "Stay with it until you get the job done." After a construction accident left him limping in pain for more than 35 years, David still ran and was not weary. His career came second to his children and he reared them in faithfulness by example. He was a man's man and God wisely entrusted him to rear seven men. He served in many church callings, including as a psychotherapist, and as a missionary on Temple Square.
David co-founded The Christmas Box House International and devoted his remaining healthy years to serving abused, neglected, and orphaned children, both in the US and abroad. His humanitarian work included village development and construction of orphanages for street children in Peru. Children around the world blessed his name. He was genuine, full of charity, and non-judgmental. David's gentle, unassuming, and unpretentious manner won him countless friends, even to the CNA's and nurses at the Willow Wood care center who mourned his departure. The family expresses gratitude to Willow Wood for their tender and compassionate care.
He loved difficult puzzles, jalapenos, and intellectual conversation. He left a legacy of 40 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to The Christmas Box House International or Generations Humanitarian.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 30th, at the River View LDS Meetinghouse, 4845 South Woodhaven (1365 W.), Taylorsville. Friends may call on Friday evening, January 29th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 So. State Street, Murray, and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.