DeAnn Evans died in a Salt Lake hospital March 19, 2000, of cardiac arrest.

Communication was her trade, generosity her trademark. DeAnn dealt in candor, humor and caring. With
warm and meticulous concern she insisted on excellence in herself and her students at the University of
Utah just as she had in being a reporter, writing a column, or directing a staff for a newspaper. Little wonder
that the study of ethics became her specialty. With unwavering attention she drew on her own keen
intelligence and integrity to promote diversity for accreditation, for her long sponsoring of the campus
Society of Professional Journalists, for tempering The Utah Chronicle staff, or conducting for years a statewide contest for high school journalists. Whether grading papers into the night or shopping for individualized gifts for her myriad friends and relatives, DeAnn's energies focused on others. She gave herself with wry insight and affection.

Active in her LDS faith as teacher, organist or at the piano, she knew how things worked. From opera to
sports stats, from politics to a child's need for love. She never missed a trick or a nuance or a chance to
laugh. She wore out her knees and her heart making things work for the rest of us.

Whole communities will miss her professionally; a lucky few will be enriched forever by her tender presence
in their lives.

DeAnn was a graduate of the University of Utah, earned a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern
University and a Ph.D. at her alma mater. For four years she lived and worked in Washington D.C., for Idaho
congressman George Hansen, later as Public Relations Director for a Robert Bent Brigham Hospital in
Boston. She returned to Salt Lake City to work as a reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune and then The Deseret
News.

There she began her career in 1967 as a member of the rewrite staff, progressing to education writer,
legislative reporter and associate city editor before being appointed managing editor in June 1981. She was
the only woman managing editor of the Deseret News, or as far as is known, any daily newspaper west of
the Mississippi. In 1983 she was elected as one of 10 on the board of Directors of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association. Later, for five years she wrote a column on the media for the Salt Lake
Tribune.

For the past twelve years she has won prestigious awards for her teaching in the Communication
Department at the University of Utah, beloved by her students and respected by her colleagues.
Born February 13, 1941, in Montpelier, Idaho to Lucile Hymas and Roscoe Eschler Evans. She lived in
Raymond, Idaho until the age of 6, when her parents moved to Montpelier. She attended schools in
Montpelier, and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1959 as salutatorian of her class.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father. DeAnn is survived by her sister, Sherrel Evans
Burgoyne of Montpelier; her brother, State Senator R. Mont and Cheryl Evans; a second family of Ronald
and Janice Wright, their three daughters Abby, Ashley and Megan, four nieces, five nephews, and 19 grand
nieces and nephews who have adored her as she has them.

DeAnn's funeral services were held March 24, 2000, in the Murray First Ward at 363 Vine Street. Burial was in the Montpelier, Idaho City Cemetery.