Evan Orien Ballard

Evan Ballard

My warrior husband Evan, age 76, started his next adventure without me as he passed into Eternity on December 28, 2020.  He was a resident of Los Alamos for 47 years, but was born and raised in southern Utah.  He attended Utah State University where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He worked at the Hanford Nuclear Facility for five years and obtained his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering along with his Professional Engineering license before moving to Los Alamos to work at LANL. Evan enjoyed his 32 years of employment at LANL before retiring in 2005.

Early on, Evan developed an intense love of the outdoors which lasted his entire life.  Our last camping trip was 14 weeks before he passed. Over the years he enjoyed salmon fishing, bow hunting, rifle hunting, golfing, snow skiing, water skiing and scuba diving.  He worked as a volunteer on Pajarito Mountain and served a term as the president of the Los Alamos Ski Club in 1979-1980.  He met his future wife, Ellen Vandergust, while water skiing at Abiquiu reservoir.  We enjoyed an active outdoor life for more than 40 years, snow and water skiing, horseback riding, four-wheel driving and camping in Canyonlands, Lake Powell, other areas in Utah’s red rock country and National Parks and Monuments.  We were blessed with a permit to hike Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) in May 2019.  Our world travels included a 20-day tent-camping trip through Botswana’s National Parks.  At age 58, Evan discovered scuba diving.  We completed 700 dives around the world with Evan’s favorite being a live-aboard trip in Papua New Guinea.  Thank You, LORD, for keeping us safe all these years in all those remote places.

When at home, Evan was an active gardener, home canner and chef.  When I met Evan my entire cooking repertoire consisted of mashed potatoes and baked potatoes.  Evan taught me the joys of creative cooking.

We spent our marriage continuing to water ski and snow ski until Evan was 71 years old.  We enjoyed our two horses and a total of 12 Pomeranians.  We were “Mom and Dad” to seven Pomeranians at one time.  One of our original Poms, Shadow, stole Evan’s heart.  As many of you remember, Shadow ran a tight ship both at home and at the dental office.

Evan is survived by his wife of 31 years, Ellen Vandergust Ballard, his daughter Christine Ballard and her mother Dorothy, brother John, sister Marsha (spouse Sy), half-brother Brian (spouse, Kaye), as well as a large extended family.

Ellen has entrusted Evan’s care to Rivera Family Funeral Home.  Cremation has taken place.  Interment of Evan’s ashes will occur at a future date with a family-only graveside service.

The Ballard family and Ellen in particular wish to express gratitude to the Ambulance Crew and ER staff who saved Evan’s life on December 10, 2020 and to the ICU staff and Respiratory Therapists who kept Evan alive and allowed his discharge on December 15.  Our sincere thanks also to Dr. Church, Dr. Rowberry, Dr. Fiorica, Dr. Green, Dr. Linnebur and the Anesthesiology staff of LAMC for their care of Evan during his stay at LAMC before his discharge.

Friends of Evan and Ellen are encouraged to post comments on the Rivera Family Funeral Home website at riverafamilyfuneralhome.com.