Longtime Ponca City benefactor Patti Evans dies

Longtime Ponca City benefactor Patti Evans, 88, died Monday, October 29, 2018.

Patti was appointed by Gov. Keating to the Oklahoma Arts Council for two terms in 1997, having served as Chair for two years, from 2001 through 2003. She has also served on the board of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

Pat is presently an advisory director for the Whitney Gallery of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, in Cody, Wyoming, and Mid America Arts Alliance, based in Kansas City, Missouri. She has also served as President of the University Center Foundation, located in Ponca City.

Patti Evans founded the Evans Children’s Academy of Performing Arts at The Poncan Theatre through a gift of $25,000.

“The Poncan Theatre is one of Ponca City’s treasures, as are our children,” she said. “I am passionate about the arts and feel privileged to participate in affording this opportunity for children to experience theatre art in this unique manner.”

Fred Boettcher, who served as President of The Poncan’s Board of Directors when the gift was made, said, “This magnificent gift will allow The Poncan to be utilized by children who are interested in learning about live theatre. There is such a need for this type of activity in our community and we are humbled by the generosity of Patti Evans. She’s no stranger to helping children through the arts. I think in addition to her generosity her guidance will give The Poncan a tremendous boost in providing services to the young people of our city.”

The Evans Children’s Academy of Performing Arts is involved in all aspects of children’s theatre with several performances each year.

Dave May, who was the Executive Director of The Poncan when the gift was made, said “Pat Evans’ gift has provided the seed money for Ponca City’s first full time year-round children’s theatre organization. Evans Children’s Academy of Performing Arts will touch the lives of area children and their families in wonderful ways by providing training and performance opportunities for all area children. Of course the fact that the children will be learning about theatre and practicing their skills in the beautiful Poncan Theatre makes it even more exciting. It is our hope that this gift will help attract and grow an even larger investment in children’s theatre in the future.”

Patti Evans is a native of Ponca City and was married to the late Lloyd “Jerry” Evans.

Jerry Evans, a Ponca City construction company owner known for his involvement in community projects, died in 2002. Evans was chairman and chief executive of Evans and Associates Enterprises Inc., which built streets in Ponca City and highways across the state.

She has two sons, Bruce Evans and Lee Evans, both of Ponca City and four grandchildren: Adam; Thomas, who died in 2002;  Kimberly, and Lee Jr.

Evans was appointed by David Boren, President of Oklahoma University, to serve as a Trustee for the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. She has also served on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Arts Institute, and Oklahoma A+ Schools. Her involvement with the Poncan Theatre includes serving on the Poncan Theatre Board, being chairman of the annual “Taste and Tasteless Grand Roast” for two years, and serving as an advisory member of the Poncan Theatre Endowment Board. Patti is the president of the Lloyd l. and Patricia Evans Family Foundation for Charitable Donations.

Jerry and Patti Evans were among the first group of leaders recognized in the Wall of Honor on the second floor of the Ponca City City Hall, dedicated in 2009. The wall recognizes a few of those individuals as leaders who have given tirelessly over a lifetime in special, significant ways to the betterment of Ponca City and to the quality of life to be enjoyed here; to memorialize for posterity’s inspiration that there were always leaders who distinguished themselves by being the first, by enduring the longest, by contesting the seemingly impossible and in the doing led Ponca City into the future.

To be considered for the Wall of Honor a person must be a citizen and resident of Ponca City who has served as our ambassador at large, who has engaged in enduring leadership within the community, made possible longterm community enhancements, supported major projects and events, provided financial and in-kind contributions and invested personal time and skills to the betterment of Ponca City.

Nominations for honorees are submitted to the mayor every 5 years. The inaugural inductees to the Wall of Honor include Fred & Sue Boettcher, Lloyd I. “Jerry” & Pat Evans, Gary Martin, and Carl and Carolyn Renfro.

Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.