Nany Evans oral history.indd - Washington Secretary of State

Evans: Dan tells this story wonderfully. He wasn’t living with them at the time, but after
I said “yes,” he went right to their house. They were upstairs in bed because it was 10
o’clock at night, or whatever. And I don’t know if he woke them up, but he barged in and
told them. And Irma was just in tears because she was so ecstatically happy. His father was
pleased, too, of course.
Hughes: Did Irma Evans over the years prove to be someone who was just like a second
mom to you?
Evans: Oh yes. She was so generous of herself, and everybody loved her. She was just one
of those people who never said a naughty thing about anybody, who would do anything for
anybody, and was just full of energy. She was just a very wonderful person.
Hughes: And Dan’s dad was a lot like your husband?
Evans: Very solid, very quiet. When Dan was in the Legislature and decided to run for
governor, I think his father was probably dismayed because that’s a big leap, and he didn’t
want his son to be hurt in any way, whereas Irma just went, “Oh, that’s wonderful!”
Hughes: “Go for it, son!”
Evans: Absolutely.
June 6, 1959: The newlyweds toast one another as their parents look on. At left , Les and Irma Evans; at right, Lilith and
Lawrence Bell. Evans family album
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