Regina Marie Evans

Regina Evans 1925 - 2013 Regina Evans, 87, died peacefully at her home in Oildale on February 23 in the comfort of her family. Born Regina Marie Dwight in Des Moines, Iowa, she was the sixth child of nine in the family of Dr. John and Mary Dwight. She had a happy childhood with her big family living on a forty acre farm outside the city. She attended St. Joseph's Academy High School, and then Iowa State University, graduating with a degree in home economics. Regina met her future husband, Max Evans, in 1947 on the steps of the Iowa State Capitol when he volunteered to meet the new teacher coming to Lohrville High School, where Max taught and coached. Max took her to dinner to thank her for repairing the seams on the football team's tackling dummy. They were married at the end of the school year on June 28, 1948. In the spring of 1949 Max and Regina hooked their trailer to their old Buick and headed for California. After summer school in Colorado they landed in Kernville where Max was teacher and coach at Kern Valley High School. Max and Regina loved those years and the close friendships they formed with the old Kernville gang. While in Kernville, their first three boys were born: Mike, Steve, and Marty. In 1955, they moved "downriver" to Oildale, where Max spent the next 30 years as teacher, coach, and administrator at North High School. Sons Pat, Chris, and Tim were added to the roster. Regina guided all aspects of her boys' lives - religion, academics, scouting and sports, while actively engaged in the parish life at Christ the King Church. Throughout the years Regina applied her many talents at home as designer, carpenter, painter, seamstress, stone mason, builder, decorator, and teacher. When the nest started to empty Regina earned a master's degree as a reading specialist at Cal State Bakersfield and developed her own reading program. She gave scores of children and adults greater potential in life by teaching them to read. After Max died in 2004 Regina took on a deep commitment to prayer by joining the Carmelite Lay Order. Regina lived her life according to her faith, engaged all with interest, kindness and humor, and enjoyed the natural and man-made wonders and characters of life. Regina's sons, their spouses, and her grandchildren (Matthew, Catherine, John, Luke, Zachary, Vanessa, Jesse and Peter), and her many friends will miss her but are happy that the souls of Regina and Max are back together in heaven. Regina's family is immensely grateful to her caregivers for their loving and compassionate attention and to Dr. Joel Gross for his dear friendship, guidance and care. A fund to help low income students with their reading ability will continue Regina's work. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Max and Regina Evans Literacy Program, 2424 Charleston Drive, Oildale, CA 93308. In celebration of Regina's life the Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 27 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Oildale. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, followed by lunch.