Lemley Chapel
Serving Sedro-Woolley &
All of Skagit County Since 1935
1008 Third Street
Sedro-Woolley, WA
360-855-1288
www.LemleyChapel.com
Evan Daniel LaRue Memorial
Evan Daniel LaRue Memorial

Evan Daniel LaRue

Evan Daniel LaRue

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Evan Daniel LaRue, 80, passed away on Sunday January 27, 2008 in Burlington, Washington.
His kind, loving, and enigmatic personality brought warmth to the lives of many.
Evan’s legacy began on October 11, 1927, when he was born to Tom and Wanda Jones LaRue in Winthrop, Washington. As a child, Evan spent summers working on his grand mother’s farm, an experience that instilled values of hard-work, service, and kindness. He also job shadowed his father on the Grand Coulee Dam project.
During his adolescence, Evan moved with his family to Port Ludlow, Washington where he attended Chimacum High School. After graduating, he followed in his father’s footsteps, mastering machinery and construction, a journey that led to the heart of the 1950s logging boom.
In 1950, Evan married Barbara Whisnant of Port Ludlow, and subsequently bore three children.
Evan’s work led the family to construction projects in Idaho, Minnesota, and Oregon. Longing for the Pacific Northwest, he finally settled in Port Angeles, Washington in 1955. He and Barbara divorced in 1970.
Evan led many road building expeditions on the Olympic Peninsula,
While serving as co-owner of Olympic Construction Company, he earned the reputation of selfless protector. He saved the most dangerous work for himself to protect his employees from the perils of building logging roads. While his hands developed the land, his heart turned to the sky. He
logged more than one-thousand hours piloting single and multi-engine aircraft. He made his last flight at age 79.
Evan retired in 1992 to pursue singing and banjo playing. He played in bands Old Time Fiddlers, Renegades, and Senior Singers. In addition, he spent countless hours working part-time and volunteering at Crestwood Convalescent Center, driving a bus and entertaining residents.
In 2001, under the auspices of his daughter and son-in-law, Shirlee and Bill Reinard, Evan moved to Burlington, Washington. There he led retiree musicians to play at independent living communities and nursing homes throughout Skagit and Whatcom counties. Last month he was elected president of the local Old Time Fiddlers music association.
Evan was an exemplar human being, said by many to be generous to a fault. His music and friendship brought much warmth and camaraderie to the senior community. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Evan is survived by his brother, Thomas J. LaRue of Vancouver, WA; Son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Darlene LaRue of Sumner, WA; Daughter and son-in-law, Shirlee and Bill Reinard of Burlington, WA and daughter, Evana Pratt of San Angelo, Texas. Six grand children, Anthony LaRue, Jason, Ben, Barb, and Billy Pratt, and Charles Thompson.
A memorial service will be held at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1006 Wicker Road in Sedro-Woolley on Saturday, February 2, 2008 at 12 noon. Contributions will be accepted on behalf of the Old Time Fiddlers at the memorial service. Proceeds will fund music lessons for children.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.

Guestbook

  • Cindy Peterson (Bower)

    I was best buds in grade school with Evana. I have never forgotten or and never will. At the time I admired how close the parents were with their kids and each other. Funny how things turn out. I miss Evana!