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Obituary
Dr. Dan Keith Evans, 83, of
Huntington, WV, passed away Sunday, January 23, 2022 in Emory Johns Creek
Hospital, Johns Creek, GA. He was born July 29, 1938, in Murray, KY, a son
of the late Milburn and Allene Dunn Evans. Dan was a 1st Lt. in the US Army
serving during the Viet Nam Era. Dan attended Murray State College earning a
Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He then attended Southern Illinois
University where he earned Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy
degrees in Botany. Dan joined the Marshall faculty in 1974, serving 38 years
as a Professor of Botany in the Biology Department. Dan consulted on the
restoration of wetlands and he traveled extensively to Ecuador to study and
collect medicinal plants used in the villages of the Amazon Basin. Dan added
many Ecuadorian specimens to the collections of Catholic University in
Quito, Ecuador and the Marshall University Herbarium, where he served as the
Curator until his retirement in 2012. Additionally, during his tenure at
Marshall, he directed the Master's Theses of 24 graduate students, and
provided significant studies for, among others, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, American Electric Power, the Ohio Power Company and the West
Virginia Department of Natural Resources. Among numerous awards and honors,
Dan was a John Deaver Drinko Academy Fellow, a National Science Fellow and
the recipient of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society's Bartholomew
Award for Service to Botany. His membership in professional organizations
included the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, the Society of Herbarium
Curators (Past President), the Herb Research Foundation, the South American
Explorers Club, the WV Native Plant Society, the Association of Southeastern
Biologists, and the West Virginia Academy of Science. Dan was a member of
Community of Grace United Methodist Church and served as the Vice Commander
and Chaplain of the WV Honor Guard Post 16, Huntington, WV and member of the
American Legion. Dan was preceded in death by his brother, Will D. Evans, a
niece, Paula Brockman Kohlenberger and nephew, Dr. Michael Brockman all of
Louisville KY. Dan is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, David and
Dana Evans of Johns Creek, GA; one sister, Anne Kay Brockman of Louisville,
KY; a sister-in-law, Barbara Evans also of Louisville; two granddaughters,
Rebecca Ann Evans and Madeline Kate Evans of John's Creek, GA; a niece Susan
Evans Teaford and nephews Daniel Evans and Tom Brockman all of Louisville
KY. Dan is also survived by his longtime best friend and companion, Vickie
Adkins of Huntington; numerous graduate students and his church family and
friends. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 pm Saturday, January 29,
2022 at Chapman's Mortuary with Pastor Donna Hinkle officiating. Burial will
be in Spring Hill Cemetery, with military graveside rites conducted by WV
Honor Guard Post 16. Friends may call one hour prior to service time
Saturday at the funeral home.
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