Major Evans is being remembered as man dedicated to his community.

Whether it was at the start line of the Yukon Quest, behind the scenes of the annual Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous, or as a longtime member of the local Elks Lodge, Evans was there.

Major Evans died last Sunday evening at the age of 91.

Born in Prince Edward Island on Nov. 11, 1915, Evans fought in the Second World War as a gunnery major on an anti-tank unit.

He arrived in the Yukon in 1956 with the military, but left in 1960 with his wife, Pat, for another posting, only to return in 1965 upon his retirement from the army.

As the story goes, though, it was during his initial posting in the territory when he was bitten with what was to become a passion he and his wife nurtured for the rest of their years.

It was down on the Yukon River at the start of the annual dog races in 1958 when one musher called out for somebody to grab the gang line, to assist with an anxious team.

Evans answered the call. He continued to answer it for the next 50 years.

He was on the ground floor with the formation of the Yukon Dog Mushing Association in the mid-1960s. He and Pat began purchasing trophies for the children's categories as far back as 1967, a tradition that flourished right up until the last Rendezvous sled dog races.

'Major Evans was a nice person, a generous person, who was really kind to people,' said Frank Turner, a renowned Whitehorse musher and former Quest champion who has a picture of Evans on his wall at home, close to his dad's picture. 'He had a really, really good sense of humour a really, really solid person.

'You could always count on Major Evans to be there, no matter what the weather was, or whatever was going on, he would always be there, and always encouraging.'

Turner said while he has many memories of Evans associated with dog mushing, he also has memories of his dad and Evans getting together and reminiscing about the Second World War.

'That was pretty neat to see them telling stories back and forth.'

Evans' dedication to the sport of dog mushing was highlighted by the Yukon Quest organization in 2005, when he was escorted to the start line to send off a ceremonial RCMP team in front of a huge crowd before the official start.

Later that year, he and his late wife were inducted into the Yukon Sports Hall of Fame for their years of dedication to the sport.

Evans was also made a lifetime honourary member of the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Society in 2004. He was once declared Member of the Year for the local Elks Lodge, and was also member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

'He was a strong community supporter, and he supported organizations who supported the community,' said Bert Hadvick, the Elks' former exalted ruler who nominated Evans for the honour back in the 1980s.

Hadvick said Evans was a no-nonsense fellow who was also dedicated to his country.

And like others have pointed out, he played a mean game of crib, Hadvick noted today.

Marj Eschak, president of the Rendezvous society, said Evans was involved with the society as far back as she can remember, and never missed an annual general meeting.

'He remained dedicated all these years,' she said, emphasizing his focus on children and encouraging their continued participation in dog mushing.

'No matter how cold it was, he was there, all bundled up. He was always, always involved.'

Evans' daughter, Iris Cormier, said today her father fell in love with the North on his first visit to the Yukon, and vowed to return upon his retirement from the service.

He worked for several years with the territory's tourism department, and was a great ambassador for the Yukon.

Evans kept a diary, making his last entry last Sunday evening, shortly before his death.

'He was the most generous guy, and always had a sense of humour,' Cormier said, adding that he loved to read joke books, and had a pile of them.

'I have lost the dearest friend I ever had.'

Cormier said the family members want to extend their appreciation and thanks for the many friends who showed Evans their admiration in his later years.

Said Turner: 'I think Major Evans' life was full in what he did, and it was also nice for the rest of us who could enjoy him for as long as we did.'