Evan “Leon” Mecham

Our loving husband, father and grandfather, Evan “Leon” Mecham, age 86, passed away March 21, 2021 surrounded by his family at his home in Ammon, Idaho.

Leon was born at home on May 31, 1934 in Firth, Idaho. He was the first of 12 children born to Evan Lyon Mecham and Evelyn Iris Schiess Mecham. He was raised in Victor, Firth and Blackfoot; he attended school in Blackfoot. On October 29, 1954 he married the love of his life, Charlotte Ann Parsons, in the Idaho Falls Temple. Together they raised 5 children in Blackfoot, Pingree, Rockford and Rexburg. They moved to 10 different homes while raising their children. After retirement, they moved to their 11th and final home in Ammon.

He continued to work at Bingham Co-op during the early days of his marriage to Charlotte. After that he started working for Case Equipment. He changed jobs and went to work at Rockford John Deere Equipment. Following this, he decided to try his hand at farming with his father-in-law, Clarence Parsons. After moving on from farming, he worked at the Rockford Lumber Yard. He then changed jobs and moved to Rexburg to become a manager for Butte Irrigation. He finished his career working for Golden West Irrigation until retiring in 1999. Often times during his life, he worked multiple jobs at a time. He was definitely a hard-working man.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held several callings throughout his life. He served as a finance clerk, ward librarian and as SNAP (Special Needs Adult Primary) Program Librarian on Tuesday nights for special needs church members from several Stakes.

He enjoyed reading, golfing, fishing, woodworking, attending Bar J Wrangler Chuckwagon and listening to their music often while playing games on the computer. He loved to travel and went on many vacations with his wife. He also enjoyed going to NASCAR races in Las Vegas with Charlotte and some of their children. He loved to pinch the cheeks of his grandbabies and great grandbabies and was known as the “KING OF TEASE” because he enjoyed teasing everyone he knew.

He is survived by his sweetheart of 66 years, Charlotte, his five children, Carla (John) Von Der Lieth, Roland (Diane) Mecham (both of Blackfoot), JoAnna (Greg) Armstrong of Idaho Falls, Annette (Jeff) Call, and Darren (Ruth) Mecham (both of Rigby), 18 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren (with 4 more soon to arrive), and 3 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Deola Matsuura, Iris Phillips, Nelda Cowley, Dennis Mecham, Von Mecham, Vickie Mecham and Reed Mecham. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Norman Mecham, and three sisters, Rhea Buttars, Lola Summers, Irma Wolfley.

Burial will be at the Riverside-Thomas Cemetery under the direction of Hawker Funeral Home.