David A. Evans

David "Dave" Alfred Evans passed away peacefully in his sleep in Barrie, Ontario, on November 1, 2025.  He was 90 years old.  Survivors include his wife of almost 64 years, Anne Georgina (Boardman) Evans of Barrie, son David Evans (Kimber Jonah) of Toronto, daughter Stephanie Hamilton of Utopia, grandson Dale Hamilton (Kristi Hamilton) of Utopia, and Emma Hamilton (Quinn Dupuis) of Barrie, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Dave is preceded in death by his parents David "Bill" Evans and Ruby Pryhoda (nee Sutton), sisters Judy and Gerri, brother Rolly, half-sister Joyce, and son-in-law, Steve Hamilton.

Known as "Skip" to his family as a boy, Dave was born in Hamilton, Ontario, on July 31, 1935, growing up there and in Van Wagner's Beach where his mother ran a small dry-goods store, and his father worked for Bell.  As a young man he went to work for "Ma Bell", and eventually worked in northern Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec in the late 1950s on the DEW Line, an extensive network of radar stations built across the Arctic during the Cold War to detect Soviet bombers flying over the North Pole.  He then went back to Bell, living for some time in Montreal and Toronto, and in 1962 married Anne Boardman, who'd emigrated with her family from England to Holly, Ontario, in the early 1950s.  The couple lived in Barrie on Clapperton Street, and two children eventually arrived; David in 1963, and Stephanie in 1967.  The family moved to Newmarket, Ontario, in the late 60s, and in 1974 Dave and Anne moved everyone to Ikoyi Island, a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria, where Dave taught skills necessary to work within the Nigerian telecommunications system, and Anne worked doing practical nursing at an orphanage.  The family remained in Nigeria for almost two years, traveling to neighbouring countries, as well as areas around Lagos - all those concerned agree that the time spent in Africa was one of the best adventures the Evans family had had together.   Dave felt that giving his family the opportunity to live within a radically different and unfamiliar culture, and to be exposed to different ways of thinking had been one of the best decisions of his life.  The time spent in Nigeria was fodder for countless stories and memories for many years to come.

Upon return to Canada, the family moved back to Barrie, then to Sharon, Ontario, and eventually back to Barrie, while Dave worked for Hackbush Sales in Toronto as a salesperson and in customer support.  The job enabled him to travel extensively throughout East Asia, India and Pakistan, the Caribbean, Australia, and New Zealand.  Eventually Dave returned to Bell, and continued to work in the Barrie and Toronto offices until his early retirement in the mid 1990s.

Dave was an avid scuba diver and recreational pilot for many years; he dove with friends in the Florida Keys, and up on the Bruce Peninsula in Tobermory. He flew a Jodel (CF-RJC), a two-seat monoplane, in the 1960s and 1970s, and built a Baking Deuce, an open-cockpit two-seater aircraft in the garage of the family home on Essa Road in Barrie.  He was happiest when flying above the clouds, and would often take friends and family up for trips to local airports throughout the areas surrounding Barrie and Newmarket, and up around Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.  If he flew above the family home, he'd rock the wings of the plane, 'waving' to those below.  Dave also owned a series of sports cars in his younger days (though his first car was an antiquated Model T Ford, he eventually classed up to his prized 1957 Triumph TR3, which he wrecked in Shanty Bay), and in his late 70s he acquired a late model Mustang convertible that he drove right up until just last year.

In retirement, Dave flew often, bombed around the countryside with Anne in the Mustang, and volunteered with the local chapter of the Recreational Aircraft Association, as well as with the Cancer Society, driving people to local appointments and to Toronto.  He and Anne would often take a motorhome or hitch up a trailer, and take trips together throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico.  Dave's latter years were spent as a mentoring Papa for his cherished grandchildren, Dale and Emma, who he would rave about at every opportunity.  He and Anne were thrilled to welcome their grandchildren's spouses, Kristi and Quinn into the family, the two of them becoming well-loved grandchildren to them both.

Dave made it well known to anyone who would listen, the great pride and love he felt for his family, and as the years progressed, he wasted no opportunity to express his ongoing appreciation for the support, love, and affection shown to him by his daughter Stephanie and her husband Steve, and by his son David and his partner Kimber.  For his wife, Anne, Dave was a rock, and a harbour when things got tough.  They were the love of each other's lives.

As per Dave's request, there will be no memorial service.  Dave didn't like to "make a fuss".  Despite his wishes, family will gather sometime in the new year to raise a glass and make a bit of a fuss for a man who was matchless, beloved, and whose death has left a hole in the family that will eventually heal, but will leave a forever-tender scar.

If folks feel inclined to make memorial contributions, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada would be most grateful.

Memories and messages of condolence may be left below.