Publication Date: Wednesday, August 22, 2001

  Robert Lee "Doc" Evans, 77, of Grants Pass died Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2001, at Three Rivers Community Hospital.

  A private family celebration of his life was held at the river. Southern Oregon Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

  Contributions may be made to the Merlin Community Baptist Church, 361 Galice Road, Merlin, OR 97532; or to the American Lung Association of Oregon, P.O. Box 115, Portland, OR 97207; or to the Humane Society, 429 N.W. Scenic Dr., Grants Pass, OR 97526.

  Evans was born Feb. 1, 1924, in Canton, Ohio. He attended McKinley High School in Canton, Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio, Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., and graduated from California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco in 1949.

  He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served as a pharmacists' mate on the U.S.S. Terry until his discharge in December 1945.

  On March 11, 1945, in San Francisco, he married Miriam Perkins, who survives.

  For a short time, he had his podiatrist office in Canton, Ohio, and went on to practice in Los Angeles for 21 years. Along with another doctor, he opened a free surgical foot clinic in the Watts, Calif., area, for people without insurance.

  He was appointed clinical assistant professor of podiatrics at the California College of Podiatric Medicine.

  In 1970, he and his wife moved to Grants Pass.

  He enjoyed spending time at the river with his dogs, hunting, fishing, flower gardening, reading, crossword puzzles, reading and reciting poetry to his family, playing cribbage with his wife, old movies, and telling stories.

  In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Cindy Lee Wood of Central Point; two sons, Gregory Todd Evans of San Francisco, Calif., and Jeffrey Robert Evans of Portland; a sister, Bessie Elaine Gloss of Canton, Ohio; five grandchildren and a great-grandchild.