Andover, NH – Ronald Douglas Evans, a beloved husband, father and friend, peacefully passed away on April 13th at the age of 84.
Born on May 29, 1941, in the charming town of Brentwood, NH. Ron lived a life rich with adventure, love, and dedication. He resided in Andover, NH, a place he cherished and called home for 57 years.
His life was a tapestry of service and community involvement, starting with his graduation from Enfield High School in 1960. Shortly after, Ron embarked on a six-month stint with the National Guard at Ft. Dix, NJ, and was later recalled during the Cuban Missile Crisis to serve at Ft. Bragg with the Army.
Upon returning to civilian life, Ron worked at LaCourse Gas Station, where he met and married the love of his life, Judy, in 1964. The couple settled in West Canaan, NH, before Ron began his job with Happy Cooking Metered Gas Service, delivering LP gas across Sullivan and Grafton Counties as well as parts of Vermont until 1967.
In 1966, Ronnie took a leap into a new chapter by applying to the NH Fish and Game Conservation Department. Hired in 1967, he was initially assigned to Nashua, NH, before being transferred to the northern Merrimack region, ultimately moving to Andover, NH, where he covered nine townships. His dedication and skill earned him a promotion to Sergeant in 1980. He competed in and won multiple shooting competitions during that time. He taught Firearms and Agility at the NH Police Academy and visited elementary schools to talk about wildlife and nature. He raised various orphaned wild animals and kept a hobby farm and gardens with the help of his wife and children. After retiring from the NH Fish and Game Department in 1992, Ron continued to serve his community with the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department and later the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Department until his full retirement in 2014.
An avid outdoorsman, Ron’s heart belonged to the waters. From the icy streams of Alaska to the sun-kissed coasts of Florida, he fished with a passion that was infectious. Whether it was the quiet lakes of Montana or the vast saltwater expanses, Ron’s love for fly fishing was legendary. His tales of trawling through Newfoundland, Quebec, and beyond were always shared with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.
A pillar of the community, Ron was an active member of the Andover Lions Club, American Legion, and the King Solomon Masonic Lodge of Elkins, offering his time and heart to countless causes. His legacy is one of kindness, dedication, and an adventurous spirit that knew no bounds.
Ron survived a broken back, 4 knee replacements, 2 open heart surgeries including 2 aortic valve replacements, too many heart stents to count, and prostate cancer. His heart got too tired in the end, but his will to keep going never faltered.
Ron is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Judith Eileen Evans, their three children: Ronda L. Young and her husband Richard M. Young, Karen A. Schwendler and her husband Thomas R. Schwendler, and Everett L. Evans and his wife Jennifer A. Evans, as well as his beloved grandchildren: Benjamin, Emily, Robert, Jonathan, Henry and Charles. He has his sisters, Valerie Palen and Susan Miller along with his niece Shannon Simos and his cousin Ellen Evans Pysz who will miss him dearly. His brother Stephen J. Yannocone passed away in 2013. Ronnie leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and long tales, woven into the memories of all who knew him.
As we gather to celebrate Ron’s remarkable life, we remember him not with sadness, but with the joy and warmth he brought into our lives. May his spirit continue to inspire us to live with purpose, adventure, and community service.
Calling hours will be from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 18th at the Chadwick Funeral Home , 235 Main Street, New London, NH.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 10:00 A.M. at Oak Grove Cemetery in Enfield, NH.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Conservation Officers Relief Association Fund, or CORA, at 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, NH, 03301. nh-cora.org
Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes