Telly Scott Evans left us suddenly on June 16, 2010, in Challis, Idaho. Born in Nampa, Idaho, on July 25, 1974, to Jane Evans and L. Craig Evans, Telly attended Saint Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Bishop Kelly High School in 1993. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho in 2004.
Telly loved Idaho. As a young boy and continuing through his life, Telly fished and rafted the waters of Idaho. Throughout college and adulthood, Telly's love and knowledge of Idaho's rivers and fisheries made him an influential part of the Salmon River. Telly was passionate about Idaho's wild fish and their habitat. As a guide with his river family at Rocky Mountain River Tours on the Middle Fork of the Salmon, he gave interpretive presentations about Idaho's anadromous fish and nature, sharing his passion, stories and knowledge, which touched countless lives. Telly also worked in various capacities for the Department of Fish and Game. With the University of Idaho on a fully funded Chinook migration study, he researched the Pacific Lamprey for Cramer Fish Sciences, and most recently worked for the Bureau of Land Management.
Telly loved life and he loved to discover. The mountains and rivers were his playground and his free spirit took him on many adventures throughout the world. Though he trekked, fished and rafted in many countries, he found solace in Idaho's mountains; he was a true mountain man, a Gentle Giant, a magnet for fun and adventure. He defined generosity; from warm clothes and fly-fishing gear for guests on the river to a kind word, a warm hug or a listening ear to friends, family and strangers, Telly was selfless to the end.
King of the practical joke, Telly will be remembered by his perpetual smile and thunderous laughter. He was kind and filled with love and compassion for his family, his friends and any animal he met. To Telly, there was no such thing as a "stray" dog, and he will be missed by two of his best friends, Zeke the pudelpointer and Maya the husky, and will be greeted by his beloved dog Jake.
Since Telly first saw the natural world around him, he was enraptured by the science of it. He loved to learn and was a lifelong student of science. His love for the environment, biology and especially fish led him to become the expert among friends and family, who lovingly dubbed him "The Fishicist." But to Telly, the joy of fishing wasn't in the catch but in the release. Anyone who wanted a guaranteed catch on the river knew to ride with Telly, and his presence inspired in all a reverence for nature. He was a patient teacher of fly fishing and enjoyed teaching the art of casting a dry line—even after being hooked by his mom, girlfriend and too many kids to count! Telly found little more beautiful than the life and journey of Idaho's trout, steelhead and salmon until he met his soul mate and love of his life, Scottie Lee Patrick, on July 14, 2007.
Telly also loved hunting. When guiding guests or hunting with friends and family, he celebrated the harvest but he deeply respected and revered the deer, elk and upland game for their presence and spirit in this world. Telly was a spiritual man, and the great outdoors was his church. His spirit was connected with the land and the river; now it is free to be with the river, mountains and wilderness he loved, forever on the Greatest Float Trip Ever.
Telly is survived by his father, L. Craig Evans; his mom, Jane Evans; his step-dad, Doug Tamura; his little brother, Kobe Tamura; his sister, Amber Evans; his grandparents, Grace Geselle and Bob and Joan Evans; many, many aunts, uncles and cousins; and the love of his life, Scottie Patrick. He was preceded in death by his grandpa, Earl Geselle.
Whether you spent minutes, days or years with him, Telly was an instant and eternal friend. For all those who knew and loved him, a celebration of Telly's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 28, at the Pioneer Park in Stanley, Idaho. For more information concerning the celebration please contact Jeremy Boswell at White Cloud Rafting (512) 809-0177 or Hannah Stauts (406) 600-5089.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Telly's favorite organizations, Save Our Wild Salmon (www.wildsalmon.org) or Trout Unlimited (www.tu.org) or your own favorite charity.
