Rick was born September 25, 1951, to Richard and Stella Mae Evans, and passed from this life on April 30, 2024. He was born and raised in Cushing, where he developed a deep love of all sports, but his true passion was baseball.

Rick had a live arm, and competitive spirit; and with his true friend and battery mate, Randy Holleyman, he dominated opposing hitters, from pee-wees through high school. He graduated from Cushing in 1969, a member of the Oklahoma All-State Team. Following high school, Rick played for Eastern and Southeastern, where he met Virginia Funk. The two married in 1973 and had 2 children: Jessica and Phillip. At this point in life, Rick transitioned from player to coach.

He began as an assistant at Yale, Oklahoma, followed by head coaching positions at Perkins, Perry, Antlers, and eventually Cushing. Rick retired from baseball in 1998, having amassed over 300 victories as a head coach.

Rick and Virginia moved to Enid in 2003, where he sold insurance and securities for multiple years. His passion for baseball persisted, and he became a fixture at David Allen Memorial, where you could find him on any given spring day, enjoying the game he loved. However, the draw of competition continued, and he took a position as an assistant football coach at Fairview High School, until he finally retired in 2021.

He was passionate and dedicated, but above all, he loved his players. Whether he was coaching, disciplining, or joking with his players, he was fully invested. His spirit and intensity were contagious to those around him. He will forever be known by many as "Coach."

His passion for coaching was only eclipsed by his love and passion for family. Rick enjoyed nothing more than watching or hearing of his grandson's achievements, both on the field and in the classroom.

He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Stella Mae, siblings Mark Evans, Julie Kennedy, and Mick Evans, and his wife Virginia, whom he faithfully cared for until her passing. He is survived by daughter Jessica and husband Ozgur, of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, and their sons Sean and Aydin; his son Phillip and wife Anna of Cushing, and their sons, Gunner, Ethan, and Brooks, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home.  A celebration of Rick's life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024, at the First Baptist Church.

Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.palmermarlerfh.com.