Dean Richard Evert

The family of Dean Richard Evert announce the passing of their father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and brother, who passed on to his next adventure, 1 April 2025, in Brigham City, Utah. He will be missed by all those he left behind.

Dean was born on 30 October 1936, in Hilliard, Florida, to Walter Frederick Evert and Edith Pearl (Kelsey) Evert. He was their second son and second child. Dean had completed the second grade when the family relocated to Batavia, Illinois, where his father’s parents lived. A sister was born after the family moved to Batavia. Dean graduated from Batavia High School, where he played the sousaphone in the marching band, and sang in the mixed choir and glee club. He worked one summer on a dairy farm. He was a lifeguard at the local swimming pool.

After high school graduation, Dean attended the University of Illinois- Champaign, earning his Bachelor of Science degree and additionally a master’s degree in electrical engineering. After his master’s degree, Dean was employed by Honeywell, in Minnesota for about 5 years. He switched careers, earning his PhD in Plant physiology from the University of Minnesota. Dean accepted a teaching and research position at the University of Vermont (UVM) in Burlington. Dean completed a 9-month sabbatical leave, with a focus on research on grapes, at Michigan State University, Lansing, over the school year of 1977-1978.

After returning to UVM, accepted a position as 100% researcher for the University of Georgia (UGA), Athens, in an extension service position located in Tifton, Georgia. For the UGA system he did research on Peaches with emphasis on peach orchard commercial growers. Dean did research on persimmons, pomegranates, and paw paws. Dean retired from UGA, and moved to Silver City, NM.

He enjoyed living in New Mexico the most, with the mountains and hiking available, where he grew rosemary, pomegranates, and other native plants. Dean hung multiple hummingbird feeders on his front porch and dozens of birds would seek out their daily meals. Due to health issues, the couple moved to Utah in 2017 to be near family. Dean moved to Arizona briefly following his wife’s passing and enjoyed solo hikes in the Arizona desert and mountainous area. In the middle of Covid, Dean moved back to Utah to be near his closest daughter and her family.

Dean met his wife, Leda Renner, on a blind date in Champaign, Illinois. It was love at first sight. They were married 21 March 1959, in Marshall, Illinois, and moved to Minnesota for Dean’s job at Honeywell. Dean and Leda welcomed their children, Teri, Gail, and Erik, all in Minnesota, and prior to their move to Vermont. Living in Vermont was an adventure as the family lived on five acres and became avid gardeners. They purchased a 150-year-old farmhouse which subsequent remodeling resulted in Dean quipping the phrase he was a “Jack of All Trades and Master of None!” Dean spearheaded multiple Outdoor experiences, such as snow shoeing and hiking, including hikes in Vermont to the summit of Mount Mansfield and Camels Hump.

Dean and Leda enjoyed attending theatrical and musical presentations throughout their lives together. The couple took many trips in the United States, making it to ALL 50 states, Canada, visiting family and friends scattered throughout.

Dean and Leda were avid hikers and campers, often camping in off road sites, as well as hiking and/or camping in national, and state parks. Their overseas travel included South Africa, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, India, China, Tibet, Egypt, and Israel. Dean and Leda were married for 59 years until Leda’s passing in 2018. Dean held to a high moral standard of honesty and integrity and raised his children to be honest, hardworking, and independent.

Preceded by his parents, his brother, Jim, and his wife, Leda. Surviving is his sister, Ruth Harmon, children Teri (Rudy) Zorko, Gail Evert (Jon Farrelly), Erik (Jennie) Evert, six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, many nieces, and nephews.