Evan Martin Williams

March 9, 1936 - January 5, 2024

In Loving Memory ~

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Evan Martin Williams.

Evan was born in Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan to Alan and Dorothy Williams. He often reminisced that some of the best years of his life were growing up in a log cabin on the Shellbrook homestead until his family uprooted to relocate to Kelowna in 1948.

In his younger years he was a logger and a welder, played lacrosse, hockey and later took up golf which became a lifelong pleasure and escape. He enjoyed many years of camaraderie with various golfing buddies in Kelowna, Maui, Arizona and Langley.

Evan was the ultimate salesman. He sold cantaloupes off his bicycle as a child, graduated to knocking on doors peddling powdered milk as a young dad, then moved into selling life insurance and eventually circling back to the logging world to sell Kenworth Trucks in Penticton.

He established Skeena Kenworth in Terrace, then moved to Langley to head up Inland Kenworth, Skagit Equipment and IMCL Equipment. After several years working for others, he opened up Ev's International Trucks and built Ev's Truckport, a full-service centre. As Evan's business grew, he transitioned to Mack Trucks which resulted in a lot of bulldog paraphernalia in the Williams household.

Evan greatly enjoyed the many years he coached his sons' minor hockey and lacrosse teams and at one point he facilitated the purchase of a Junior "A" hockey team, the Langley Eagles.

He took great pride being a protector of the family as exemplified by taking on the role of chauffeur for his teenage daughter and gang of girlfriends referring to them all as his daughters wherever he went.

In 1993, he was elected as a councillor to Langley City Council and for nine years worked tirelessly to initiate and oversee several projects for the betterment of Langley City, including the New City Hall.

Always one to give back to his community, Evan donated his time and money to launch the Rec 'N Reading program at Douglas Park Community School. His personal difficulty with dyslexia and literacy inspired him to support and encourage children to develop these skills so they could follow their dreams.

Never one to shy away from challenges, in 2006 he accepted the role as Chairman for a TEC Canada group to mentor private business owners. For 6 years he shared his life lessons from the "School of Hard Knocks" to guide these younger owners to make better decisions and become successful leaders.

Evan dabbled in real estate and development, including restoration of the Langley Royal Bank, the Post Office Federal Building, and the Heritage Chapel in White Rock with his son Byron.

While it is difficult to highlight all of Dad's numerous accomplishments, we will always remember the grit and determination with which he faced life's challenges. He wore many hats as a salesman, businessman, mentor, advisor, coach and confidante who always spoke his true mind. And yes, sometimes you didn't want to hear it.

Evan was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Dad loved his family dearly and we are all proud to be part of his legacy. Up to his very last days, he worked diligently on his greatest project of all, "Evan's Story".

He spent endless hours chronicling his life's adventures, misadventures, challenges and lessons learned. His goal was to not only provide a record of his life, but to give his children and their descendants guidance by his experience and a common bond as they navigate their lives.

Evan leaves behind his wife Marion of 67 years, three children Natalie (Jeff), Alan (Laura), and Byron (Elissa), seven grandchildren Mason, Olivia, Tessa, Baird, Hannah, Ryan and Marissa, and five great-grandchildren Hunter, Nixon, Wesley, Sophie and Anara.

Please join us for a Celebration of Evan's life on February 16, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Coast Hotel in Langley.