Bertram "Bert" Byron Evans

Bertram B. Evans passed unexpectedly on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey. 

His life will be remembered and celebrated during a funeral service that will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25th at Stone Funeral Home; Pastor Ryan Rauhaus of Landmark Baptist Church will officiate.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Bert was born on July 4, 1927 in Flint, Michigan, to Joseph Harold and Myra (Harrington) Evans.  Shortly after his birth, Bert's parents moved to Arkona, Ontario, where they resided for a number of years; they returned to Flint when Bert was 8 years old.  Bert attended school in Flint and was a graduate of Flint Central High School.   In 1946 he married Mary Louise "Mary Lou" Fitzpatrick, together they raised two children Larry and Cheryl.  In 1988 following retirement, Bert and Mary Lou moved north, settling in Petoskey.  Sadly, Mary Lou preceded Bert in death on November 24, 1996.  He was lucky to find love again, when he met and eventually married Diane Bayha.  Bert and Diane have shared more than two decades together, he became a second father to Diane's two sons and a loving grandfather to their children as well.

Bert worked primarily in the area of heating and cooling; first as a furnace repair technician and then in 1958 he took a job as a heating and cooling technician with the Chrysler Corporation at the Hiland Park Plant.  He worked for Chrysler until the mid 1980's, when he retired. 

His family and good friends, of which he had many, will remember a man who was humble, kind and caring.  He was a gentleman, in the truest sense of the word; forever looking to the needs and comfort of those around him before his own.  Bert was also blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and a keen intellect.  He was an avid reader and a true auto aficionado; over the years his automobile collection became quite extensive.  His true pride and joy however would have to be his 1937 Cadillac LaSalle, it's one of those cars that never failed to turn heads. 

Surviving Bert as mentioned above is his loving wife Diane, his son Larry (Rosemary) Evans of Fenton, and his daughter Cheryl LaFrance of Petoskey.  He is also survived by his step-son, David (Renee) Bayha of Petoskey and his grandchildren; Tanya (Jeff) Mannis, Molly (Scott) Langlois, RaeAnn (Andrew) Garber and Robert (Emily) Fretz and by 8 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.  Bert as mentioned above was preceded by his wife Mary Lou, by his step-son Robert Bayha Jr., and by his grandson David Evans. Everyone who knew Bert, will miss this gentle man's smile and his kind nature. 

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