Capt. Jack LaVelle Evans, USN, ret., died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 in St. Charles, MO with his children. He was born Dec. 22, 1920 in Malad City, Idaho, the son of late Daniel and Lesley Evans. He had one sibling, Jeanette, who precedes him in death. On September 13,1942 he married LaVerne Cooper Alley, who died in 2002 in Diamondhead, MS, just prior to their 60th anniversary.

  He attended what is now Boise State University, and entered the US Navy as an aviation cadet at Corpus Christi, TX in 1940. He had a distinguished career as a naval aviator during World War II, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam War. He served as a squadron commander (VF-32), and an Air Officer aboard USS Ranger. He commanded three ships (USS Sirius, Belatrix, and Okinawa) and a Naval air station (NAS New Orleans). He retired in 1972 after 33 years of service. Following his retirement, he served as a consultant to Litton Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, MS, and later worked at CSC Corporation on the NASA site at Bay St. Louis, MS.

  On Dec. 26, 2003 he married Maealys Swartzendruber, who resides in Edmond, OK.

  He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jack and CJ Evans, and his daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Ed Young, of St. Charles, MO and his granddaughter, Jessica Smith of St. Louis, MO and step-grand and great-grand children.

  A memorial service will be held in Diamondhead, MS at a later date. In lieu of flowers family requests memorial donations to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 5301 Snead St., Bldg 30, Gulfport, MS 39501.