SOUTH PARIS – Otis Ingalls Evans, 85, of South Paris, died on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

He was born at Errol, N.H., on March 31, 1920, the son of Fred and Mildred (Swett) Evans. He was educated in Woodstock schools and graduated from Woodstock High School in 1939.

He was master of the Franklin Grange at the age of 21, and had been active in a variety of sports. Otis joined the U.S. Army on Veterans Day in 1942 and served overseas for two years.

He was a member of the American Legion in Oxford and of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9787, the Maine National Guard, the Knights of Pythias for more than 25 years, was a lieutenant in the Oxford Fire Department, and had been a member of the Woodstock Fire Department, as well as a volunteer with the South Portland Fire Department.

He had been employed at Newton-Tebbetts and the Canadian National Railroad. He had a love and passion for his job as an Oxford policeman for 22 years, and in later years, after retirement, he worked as a greeter at Ames Department Store.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Grace (Brooks) Evans, whom he married in Island Pond, Vt., in 1942; one son, Otis Evans Jr. and his wife, Jennifer, of South Carolina; one daughter, Alleen Eastwood of Biddeford; five grandchildren, Manuela Evans and Arthur Evans, both of South Carolina, Kirsten Eastwood of Saco, Michille Eastwood and her husband, Shayne Hirst, of Kennebunkport, and Amanda Eastwood of Biddeford; four great-grandchildren, Isabella Grace Hirst, Brady Hirst, Peter Evans and Hayden Evans; also a daughter-in-law, Monika Evans.

He was predeceased by one sister, Bernice Swain, who was married to Rosco Swain.

Otis was a man who really cared about people and contributed to community services for many years. Even after retiring, Otis couldn’t stop working. He needed to be with his many friends and express his generous love and kindness. He became a greeter at Ames Department Store, which enabled him to continue to touch the lives of many with his genuine smile.

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