1927
Homer
2017
Homer Evans
December 5, 1927 — June 9, 2017
Homer Clark Evans, 89, of Prairie Village, KS, died June 9, 2017 after a short illness. He was born December 5, 1927 in Pittsburg, KS to Faye and Homer F. Evans and lived in the Kansas City area his whole life. He attended Ashland Grade School and Southeast High School. At Kansas University, he was a member of TKE and received degrees in Business/Industrial Management and an MBA.
Homer was a counselor (1947-51) at Cheley Camp in Estes Park, CO, leading hikes in the Rocky Mountain National Park and up Longs Peak ten times. He served in the US Army (1952-54) and was in the first test of the atomic cannon in Las Vegas. As a City Councilman in Leawood he was Chairman of Budget and Finance. In retirement, he tutored reading for eleven years at Literacy Kansas City and was named “Tutor of the Year”.
Homer spent his entire career with Hallmark Cards, Inc., retiring in 1992 after 38 years of service. A strong leader and innovator, he was a Hallmark corporate officer and served as the first President of the company’s Ambassador Brand. He also led Hallmark’s sales organization, the greeting card division and directed the company’s early entry into licensing. He is credited with the introduction of the popular Shoebox brand of humor cards.
Homer is preceded in death by their son, Clark. Survivors are his wife of 62 years Peggy; daughter Jane Larigan (Scott); son, Scott (Mary Ann); grandson Andrew; granddaughter Leslie; daughter-in-law, Karla Van Drunen Littooy (Fred).
A memorial service will be held at 3pm, Saturday, June 17 at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway, with visitation following. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. John's United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO, 64113; or Literacy Kansas City, 211 West Armour Blvd., Third Floor, Kansas City, MO 64111; or John Austin Cheley Foundation (camp scholarships), 1420 Ogden Street, Suite 102, Denver, CO 80218.
Homer was a counselor (1947-51) at Cheley Camp in Estes Park, CO, leading hikes in the Rocky Mountain National Park and up Longs Peak ten times. He served in the US Army (1952-54) and was in the first test of the atomic cannon in Las Vegas. As a City Councilman in Leawood he was Chairman of Budget and Finance. In retirement, he tutored reading for eleven years at Literacy Kansas City and was named “Tutor of the Year”.
Homer spent his entire career with Hallmark Cards, Inc., retiring in 1992 after 38 years of service. A strong leader and innovator, he was a Hallmark corporate officer and served as the first President of the company’s Ambassador Brand. He also led Hallmark’s sales organization, the greeting card division and directed the company’s early entry into licensing. He is credited with the introduction of the popular Shoebox brand of humor cards.
Homer is preceded in death by their son, Clark. Survivors are his wife of 62 years Peggy; daughter Jane Larigan (Scott); son, Scott (Mary Ann); grandson Andrew; granddaughter Leslie; daughter-in-law, Karla Van Drunen Littooy (Fred).
A memorial service will be held at 3pm, Saturday, June 17 at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway, with visitation following. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. John's United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO, 64113; or Literacy Kansas City, 211 West Armour Blvd., Third Floor, Kansas City, MO 64111; or John Austin Cheley Foundation (camp scholarships), 1420 Ogden Street, Suite 102, Denver, CO 80218.
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