Nancy Evans Washington former first lady dies at 90
Nancy Evans Washington first lady passes away at 90.
Former First Lady of Washington, Nancy Bell Evans, Passes Away at the Age of 90
In a tragic turn of events, Nancy Bell Evans, the former first lady of Washington and beloved wife of Gov. Dan Evans, has passed away at the age of 90. Her death occurred on Friday, leaving behind a legacy of public service and a deep devotion to her family.
Nancy Bell Evans dedicated a significant portion of her life to serving the public, both in the arts, which she held a fierce passion for, and in various health organizations. Her commitment to making a difference was unwavering, even during her husband’s three terms as governor from 1965 to 1977.
Evans peacefully passed away at her home with her family by her side, just before midnight on Friday. Her son, Dan Evans Jr., shared that she had been battling breast cancer, which had unfortunately returned for the fourth time and spread to her bones.
“In talking to family, friends, and the community about Mom, the phrase that comes up repeatedly is ‘force of nature.’ She was exactly that,” said her sons, Dan Jr., Mark, and Bruce Evans, in a statement to The Seattle Times. “She convened and connected people, she propelled causes forward, and she offered sage advice of both the welcome and unwelcome variety. And she did all that while raising a family and holding up her end of the unique and loving partnership she had with Dad.”
Throughout her life, Nancy Bell Evans played a prominent role in various organizations. She was a founder and chair of the Friends of Cancer Lifeline, national chair of the First Ladies’ Mental Health Month, founding trustee of Planned Parenthood of Olympia, and founder of the Governor’s Mansion Foundation.
Her sons fondly remembered her love for engaging dinner table conversations, stating, “Mom liked nothing better than to be at the head of a sparkling dinner table conversation, and I think that’s how we boys will always remember her.”
Nancy Ann Bell was born on March 21, 1933, in Spokane, Washington. Her father, a mining engineer and native New Yorker, settled in Spokane after spending some time in Vancouver, B.C. Music held a special place in Nancy’s heart, and during her high school years, she played the piano for an orphanage in town. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in music from Whitman College in 1954 and later became a music teacher and librarian in the Shoreline School District.
During a ski trip organized by mutual friends, Nancy met Dan Evans, who had already been elected to the Washington State House of Representatives. The couple eventually married in 1959 after Nancy took three days to say yes to his proposal.
Just five years later, Dan Evans became Governor Dan Evans, making Nancy the youngest first lady in Washington history at the age of 31. Together, they moved into the governor’s mansion and raised their two sons, Dan Jr. and Mark. In 1966, they welcomed their third son, Bruce.
As a moderate Republican governor and later a United States senator, Dan Evans is regarded as an elder statesman of Washington politics. Nancy Evans played a vital role as first lady, overseeing the restoration of the Governor’s Mansion and the establishment of the Governor’s Mansion Foundation. She dedicated herself to maintaining and enhancing the mansion’s furnishings, art, and library collection in the public rooms.
Governor Jay Inslee expressed his gratitude for Nancy’s contributions, stating, “From experience, I can say that Nancy Evans was a significant part of the successes of the Evans administration. We are particularly grateful for her leadership in saving the Governor’s residence from demolition. All the while, she was a mainstay of the Evans family. Trudi and I send our deepest condolences to her family and thank her for her dedication and years of service to the Evergreen State.”
Besides her involvement in public service, Nancy Evans served as a trustee of the Patrons of South Sound Cultural Activities and the State Capitol Museum. She was also a co-founding director of the Governor’s Festival of the Arts.
Living in and raising her three sons in the governor’s mansion was a privilege that Nancy never took for granted. Her compassion extended beyond her own family, as she and Governor Evans welcomed Vietnamese refugees to Washington during the end of the Vietnam War. They personally greeted the first group of refugees, including Chuong Huu Nguyen and his pregnant wife Xuan Hoa Pham, who named their son Evans in honor of the couple.
After leaving office, Dan Evans and Nancy resided on Bainbridge Island before building their home in Seattle. Nancy’s influence extended to the arts as well, as she played a crucial role in garnering support for the construction of Benaroya Hall, which opened in 1998.
The University of Washington established the Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy in her honor in 2004. She served as a member of the UW Foundation Board, the Dean’s Council at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, and the visiting committee of the School of Public Health.
Nancy Bell Evans leaves behind her loving husband, sons Dan Jr., Mark, and Bruce, and nine grandchildren. Her dedication to public service and her unwavering commitment to making a difference will be remembered and cherished by all who knew her.
Material from The Seattle Times archives was used in this report.
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– Nancy Evans, Washington’s former first lady, dies at 90
– Nancy Evans, former first lady of Washington, passes away at the age of 90.
