Clair “Corky” Eugene Evans
June 1, 1928 – January 20, 2022
Rogers, Arkansas – Clair “Corky” Eugene Evans, retired farmer, passed peacefully January 20, 2022, in Rogers, Arkansas. He was born June 1, 1928, to Sherman McKinley Evans and Vera Ella (Stevens) Evans. A lifelong resident of Valley Center until a few years ago, he and his wife Eleanor moved to the Rogers area to be closer to their daughter and her family.
Corky was a graduate of Valley Center High School and Wichita State University. Upon graduating from WSU, he entered the Army. He returned to Valley Center where he married Eleanor Louise Patrick on December 27, 1953. Together they established a farmstead and raised their family. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Valley Center. He was also a member of the Newton Masonic Lodge (formerly Valley Center), Wichita Scottish Rite and Midian Shrine Temple. He was an active civic leader in the community where he served many years on the Park Township Board and the Valley Center School Board.
An avid sports fan and active participant, he loved playing baseball, basketball, football, and running track. The highlight of his athletic career was as the “Wheatshockers'” quarterback for what is now Wichita State University. In his retirement years, he took up golf and in true form excelled by recording 2 holes in one and shooting his age! He and Ele were their children and grandchildren’s biggest fans attending their many school and sporting events.
He and Ele loved to socialize and travel with their family and friends. Square dancing in their younger days, camping trips to local Kansas lakes, trips to Colorado with their “Crazy 8” group and more. Later they also enjoyed the many new friends they made in their Mesa, AZ winter home.
Above all Corky was a loving, caring husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, great uncle and cherished friend. He was a principled man who set the highest standards for himself and led by example. He was a generous, kind person who didn’t know a stranger and touched many, many lives in such a positive and uplifting manner over his lifetime. This will be his living legacy…
Corky is preceded in death by his parents, Sherm and Vera Evans; sister, Lorene (Bud) Overman; and infant brother, Dale. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Eleanor; son, Les (Terry) Evans of Lenexa, KS; daughter, Sandy (Michael) Tush, Bentonville, AR; grandson, Jason (Sarah) Walter of Phoenix, AZ; granddaughter, Jessie Hester, Bentonville, AR; granddaughter, Claire (Ryan) Sinovic, Overland Park, KS; great-grandsons, Jaxon Walter, Jonas Walter and Wylder Sinovic; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
A private interment at Hillside Cemetery, Sedgwick, KS has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held in Valley Center, KS at a later date.
In lieu of flowers the family has suggested memorial contributions to: Valley Center Education Foundation, P.O. Box 218, Valley Center, KS 67147-0218, Checks made out to Valley Center Education Foundation, Memo line: Memorial Clair “Corky” Evans; or Circle of Life Hospice, Bentonville, AR https://nwacircleoflife.com/donatesupport/
Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Share tributes online at www.dlwichita.com
Published by Wichita Eagle on Jan. 30, 2022.
