Claude W. Evans passed away at home in Fallon, Nevada, on Friday, March 20, 2026. Born July 1, 1936, in Sweet Grass, Montana, to Claude (Red) and Edith Evans, he grew up in the Sweet Grass Hills and attended schools in both West Butte and Gold Butte, Montana. He graduated from high school in Sunburst, Montana, in 1954. He joined the Navy 6 months later and attended boot camp in San Diego, and then on to steelworkers school in Port Hueneme, California. He was transferred to Mobile Construction Battalion 3 in Subic Bay, Philippines, as part of a Seabee unit.
While on leave from the Philippines, Claude met the lovely Barbara Jean Apps on a blind date in the summer of 1957. He was transferred to Okinawa, Japan, and upon returning home, Claude married Barbara on December 27, 1958. The newlyweds were transferred to Guam, where their first son, Lawrance, was born in August of 1960. The next duty station took them to Great Lakes, Illinois, where their second son, Wes, was born in 1963. The new family of four then moved back to Japan for 3 years. It was time to get back to the Seabees, and in December of 1966, the family moved to Gulfport, Mississippi, where their beautiful daughter Claudia was born in March of 1967.
Claude joined the MCB-74 and served two tours in Vietnam while the family remained in Gulfport. He served with Schools Command before transferring to MCB-133. With this battalion, he completed a tour in Japan and then another at Rota, Spain. His final tour of duty found him and his family driving cross-country in the summer of 1973 to Fallon, Nevada, where he served at Naval Air Station Fallon until retiring in August 1974.
September 1974, Claude secured a job working for Churchill County School District as the Vocational Carpentry Teacher at Churchill County High School for 20 years before retiring once again in 1994. During his time with CCSD, Claude acquired his general contractor’s license. He spent many enjoyable days constructing homes and facilities around the Lahontan Valley.
Claude enjoyed fishing from coastal trips off the waters of California to streams and lakes in Nevada. He was an avid hunter and passed that love on to his boys, taking many fun and successful trips in Nevada and Wyoming.
Claude continued his love of construction and woodworking while creating many unique items in his hobby shop at home, which included a collection of homemade construction equipment.
Claude is survived by his son, Lawrance of Fallon; Wes and his wife, Barb, of Reno, Nevada; and Claudia Pearl and her husband, James, of LaPorte, Colorado. Claude is also survived by many beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family would enjoy you stopping by anytime to share your stories at the Celebration of Life, Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 2 pm at the family home, 1100 Pine Road.
If you are unable to attend but would like to share your stories, please email [email protected] or 775-721-3053.
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