Our Story

Our Story

Willard Robert Evans - Founder of Evans Funeral Chapel

In 1963 Willard sold his lumber business in Anacortes, WA and returned to school at the age of 52 to pursue his dream of serving families and owning a funeral home. He graduated from the San Francisco School of Mortuary Science in 1964 and moved back to Washington to begin his career in funeral directing. He got his start as an apprentice at Green's Funeral Home in Bellevue and earned his state funeral director/embalmer licenses.

In 1965 he purchased Chapman Funeral Home in Friday Harbor where he and his wife, Bernice, made their home for 2 years. After their move back to Fidalgo Island in 1967, he and his oldest son, Bob, founded Evans Funeral Chapel and On-site Crematory in Anacortes. To this day, the business is still family-owned and operated.

Willard was active in the funeral business until 1988, continued to be involved for another 5 years on a part-time basis, and finally retired at the age of 84. Although Willard passed away on September 9, 2002, his vision of serving families with the utmost respect and dignity lives on.