Michael Scott Evans

Michael Evans passed away unexpectedly, just eight days after discovering that he had rapidly growing cancer in multiple organs. Three weeks earlier, he had hiked in the Uinta Mountains with his dog Lucy, grand puppy Bella and close friend Darrell Jensen. His astonishingly sudden passing broke the hearts of friends and family into whose lives he brought much happiness.

Mike enjoyed three and a half years of active and joyful retirement after serving with distinction for 22 years as Court Commissioner in the State of Utah Third District Court, where he presided over more than 40,000 domestic relations hearings. Prior to 1990, he served as Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake and was an associate with the firm of Cohne, Rappaport and Segal. In addition to practicing law, he devoted much time to adult education and served as both an Associate Clinical Professor of Law and Adjunct Professor of Law at the S. J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah. He created and taught groundbreaking classes in divorce education for children, a cause very close to his heart. He edited the Domestic Relations Bench book for Utah’s Judges and Commissioners and wrote a Domestic Relations Training Manual for attorneys who volunteered to provide free representation to Utah’s underprivileged.

Mike grew up in Lehi, Utah, the youngest child of Ferd and Lila Evans, and attended Lehi schools. He is survived by siblings Gary Evans (Lehi), Bill Evans (Providence, Rhode Island) and Marcia Russon (Bountiful). He was married to Judith Borries Evans from 1976 through 2002, and together they raised two beautiful daughters, Erin Evans (married to Michael Leibsla) and Hayley Evans. He earned a BA (cum laude) in journalism at the University of Utah and a Juris Doctorate from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. While earning these degrees, he served his country honorably in the US Army Reserve, including active duty in Louisiana and Texas.

Mike was an extraordinarily outgoing and beloved man. He genuinely liked people and enjoyed numerous close and life-long friendships. He was enormously kind, generous, thoughtful and non-judgmental. He truly cared about people in need and made his corner of the world a better place for strangers, friends and family alike. He loved hosting gatherings at his home in the Avenues and cooking delicious meals for all who arrived. He loved exploring Utah’s amazing wilderness areas and was an avid hiker, photographer and naturalist.

A viewing will be held at Starks Funeral Parlor Sunday, October 4th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, 3651 S 900 E, Salt Lake City. A Celebration of Life will follow Monday, October 5th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at The Tower at Rice Eccles Stadium, Gate C, South elevator on the 4th floor, 451 S 1400 E, Salt Lake City.

The Evans family wants to thank the Huntsman Cancer Institute for their thoughtful and compassionate efforts to prolong Mike’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations be made in Mike’s name to Repertory Dance Theatre, 138 W 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, (801) 534-1000, www. rdtutah.org/. Mike served on the Board of Directors of RDT and loved and supported the arts throughout his life. He will be interred in the Lehi Cemetery, near his parents’ and grandparents’ graves. Close friends and families will hold a graveside service.

A private graveside service will be held at the Lehi City cemetery near his parents and grandparent’s graves on Monday October 5th.