"Where tradition comes to life!"

Rev. Dr. Lewis M. Evans

The Rev. Dr. Lewis M. Evans, Pastor Emeritus of First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, died at his home in Findley Lake, NY on Thursday afternoon, May 5, 2005. Dr. Evans, 76, was in his 51st year of ministry. He died after battling a rare blood disorder.

Son of the late Lewis M. and Minnie K. Pells Evans, he was born in Johnson City, NY on
13 January 1929. He graduated from North Senior High School in Binghamton, NY,
Maryville College in Maryville, TN, and Princeton Theological Seminar in Princeton, NJ, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1954. He earned a doctoral degree in divinity from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR, in 1976.

In addition to serving as pastor at First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Erie from 1979 until his retirement in 1992, Dr. Evans also served as pastor of Ashland Presbyterian Church in Cockeysville, MD, First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson City, MO, and Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, OK. Dr. Evans was active in numerous committees of the Presbyterian Church (USA) at a national, synod, and presbytery level. After his retirement, Dr. Evans served as interim pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Perkins Presbyterian Church, both in Erie, of Hasson Heights Presbyterian Church in Oil City, and also served as a frequent guest preacher in many area congregations. Recently, Dr. Evans served as chaplain of Forest View Healthcare Center.

Dr. Evans played an active role in each community in which he lived, serving as a member of numerous civic organizations, committees, and charitable organizations. Dr. Evans was one of the founders of Koinonia of Erie County.

Dr. Evans is survived by his wife, Marilyn June Brooks Evans. Dr. and Mrs. Evans would have celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in June. In addition, Dr. Evans is survived by two daughters, Linda Kay Harling and her husband David of Fort Mill, SC, and Kathy Anne Wilson of Tucson, AZ, as well as by four grandsons. He was preceded in death by a son, Mark David Evans, who died in 1973.

The funeral service was held at First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant on Sunday,
May 8,2005, at 3:00 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh, pastor, officiating. Interment
followed at Vestal Hills Cemetery in Binghamton, NY.