Mark Llewellyn Evans Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Mark Llewellyn Evans was born on January 21, 1960 in Trenton, New Jersey. He went to be with Jesus on October 4, 2021 after fighting a courageous eight year battle with cancer. Mark passed peacefully and with dignity at his home, with his wife Tracey holding his hand at his bedside. Mark was raised by his beloved mother Rita. She worked hard to give him a good life. They were very close, and he had so much love and respect for her. Mark was a very happy baby and child, so full of life and curiosity. He had a strong spirit from an early age, and he never lost it. In the time before his mom’s passing, he prayed with her as she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and he held her as she went to be with Him. His passion for history revealed itself at a very young age when he was exploring his grandfather Owen’s attic. Mark was fascinated looking at mementos from Owen’s time serving in the Navy in World War 1 and the Coast Guard Auxiliary in World War II. Mark’s mom caught on quickly and would take him on road trips to New England and Canada, and then down South to Virginia, stopping at various National Parks to explore their history. It was discovered at this time that he had a special interest in ships, and one day his career would fulfill his lifelong passion. Mark also had a very creative and imaginary side. As a child, he started writing stories about different people and their cultures that take place in an imaginary world. He also built models of ships, planes and tanks and hand painted miniature figures as part of the story. This would be the framework for Mark later becoming a naval historian and lover of Middle Earth, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. He would go on to enjoy bringing these stories to life with others, and a brotherhood was born from it. Over the past couple years, he was able to write his own Chronicles and introduced a new game to his group. Mark was thrilled that everyone loved it and ran with the characters. Mark diligently worked his way through both undergraduate and graduate school. He graduated from Kutztown University in Kutztown Pennsylvania with a master's degree in history. Mark was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, with a true patriot’s heart who proudly served his country for four years as an Operations Specialist, yet he viewed all the men and women who actively fought and sacrificed for their country as the true heroes. After serving in the Navy, he continued to be of service to our countries’ naval history, while honoring the many heroes who have fought so bravely and sharing their stories so that they live on for their loved ones and future generations. Mark said that God fulfilled a lifelong dream when he opened the door for him to work for the Navy as a historian. Mark retired from the department of the Navy in December 2020, after a 23 year tenure as a naval historian. He had written hundreds upon hundreds of Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) histories, as well as articles for Naval History Magazine, Naval Aviation News, and others. He’s authored multiple books, including The Most Illustrious Name The USS Enterprise (CVN-65); Volume I & II of United States Naval Aviation 1910-2010 (with Roy A. Grossnick); and Great World War II Battles in the Arctic. His last book The USS Enterprise (CVN-65): The First Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier, is available for pre-order and will be released in January 2022. As his illness advanced, there were setbacks with publishing, yet he and his wife Tracey prayed and remained patient, believing it would happen in God’s time, and it did as Mark was able to see the fruits of his labor of love come to fruition. In addition to being a gifted writer and naval historian, Mark had mentored junior historians, contractors, and interns. Mark had an encyclopedic knowledge of naval history and a writing style that brought joy to others. He was considered a fount of knowledge and was highly respected by his colleagues both professionally and personally. Mark loved to ride his bike and explore his surroundings. He would venture on his bike regularly and his favorite route was along the W&OD canal in Loudoun County, Virginia. During his outings he would often take photos of nature along his path. He traveled the world over while in the Navy, yet his most fulfilling destinations were ones of spirit; to Nepal for a missionary trip, and most notably Israel on the Holy Land tour. During the tour in October 2015, Mark rededicated his baptism in the Jordan River. He loved the beauty of the town of Caesarea, and also enjoyed the beautiful landscape of his trip to Greece on the Footsteps of the Apostle Paul tour. Another interest of Mark’s was reading. He always wanted to learn, and was drawn to the unique bookstores he would encounter during his travels. Of all the books he read, his favorite was Lord of the Rings. In addition to world history, he loved reading about the British people. His love for the Brits was first discovered when he and his mom went to England in 1973. He admired their loyalty to the crown and each other. Mark was in an exchange program as an undergraduate when he first toured Wales. He loved the beautiful Welsh countryside and was fascinated by his own Welsh ancestry. Mark married his soulmate Tracey in October 2018 in a Christ-centered ceremony. Among many things, they shared a love of God first, animals, fellowship, friendship, humor, music, dancing, writing, hiking, the ocean, river walks at their home, visiting small towns, nature, the fall season, the color purple and actor Jimmy Stewart. Their marriage was founded on God’s love and grace first, then their love for each other. They believed that God ordained them to be together, and the vows they took before God to love sacrificially and unconditionally were honored throughout their marriage in the face of a serious and ever-changing illness. While the time they shared together was cut short, they poured a lifetime of love into it. It was during his service in the Navy that Mark accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Even though Mark came from humble beginnings, he built a solid foundation for his life, the cornerstone of which became his deep-rooted Christian faith and heritage. Mark’s faith was of the utmost importance to him. He attended church services regularly, and loved that he could worship alongside his wife Tracey. Mark volunteered and supported various ministries including Compassion International through which he sponsored a child for many years. Tracey will continue to sponsor this dear child. Mark’s life’s accomplishments were only outshined by the person he was. He lived a very full life in his 61 years, yet he had a remarkable gift of humility. He would not boast, he was very humble. Upon meeting Mark, one would instantly be greeted with warmth in the form of a smile, and sincere interest. He met people with positivity and acceptance, and radiated goodness. His warm and gentle heart was evident, and he touched the lives of many. Mark took the time to make people feel heard, important, and cared for. He made people feel good, and was thoughtful, considerate and genuinely kind to everyone. His endearing and infectious smile would light up a room. Mark was mild mannered and even tempered. He would show grace to everyone and would make a point of learning and addressing people by their name, a sign of respect. Mark was a compassionate and empathetic man who also had the gift of mercy. He believed in, and new the power of prayer. Mark prayed often, and always remembered people in his prayers, no matter what he was going through. He was a true man of character and integrity, as was evident by the way he carried himself. During his hardest chemo days or pain filled moments, he would not complain. There were multiple occasions when he was around others and in some type of pain, and no one would even know it. Mark was long suffering in his fight, yet throughout he was a pillar of strength and always kept his composure, even in the toughest of circumstances. His relationship with God was strengthened during these times, and as a result he was able to feel God's peace, as scripture tells us "the peace that surpasses all understanding." He also maintained his incredible sense of humor through and through. Mark was the best husband to Tracey anyone could hope or pray for. He always put her well-being first, and loved her unconditionally. Mark cared for everyone, and loved his friends who were like family, and his own family very dearly. He always knew and expressed the importance of family, and his meant everything to him. He is survived by his wife, Tracey Evans; uncle Owen Evans; cousins Beth Thoman, Keith Davis, Charles Davis, Paul Davis; second cousins Michael and Alex Thoman, Griffith Evans, Ariel, Danielle and Cory Davis; and Mark’s two precious cats Marley and Manxey. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother Rita Evans; aunt Carol Stawski; uncle Edward Stawski; grandmother Elizabeth Evans; grandfather Owen Evans; and cousin Pamela Anne Davis. Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” “My legacy doesn’t matter. It isn’t important that I be remembered. It’s important that when I stand before the Lord, he says “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I want to finish strong.” -Dr. James Dobson Mark’s life honoring service will be held on Friday, October 22, 2021 at 1:00 p.m., at Mark’s church: Image Church, 13900 Church Hill Drive, Woodbridge, Virginia 22191, with Pastor Chris Rhodenhizer officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a ministry near and dear to Mark’s heart: Compassion International at https://www.compassion.com/

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Mark Llewellyn Evans

October 4, 2021