(West Plains) – West Plains Mayor Joe Paul Evans, who has been mayor of West Plains since 1999, has passed away at the age of 81.
Mayor Evans passed away Saturday night at 8:30 PM at Ozarks Medical Center. Evans had open heart surgery roughly a month ago at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and had recently been rehabilitating from his surgery at West Vue Rehabilitation Center in West Plains.
West Plains City Clerk and PR Director Mallory Thompson says the city is deeply saddened by the passing of the mayor, and that current Mayor Pro-Tem Jack Pahlmann will serve in the position.
During his tenure as mayor, Evans oversaw a number a major changes to the city, including the city hall and police department complex, Galloway Park, the naming of a number of streets after local figures such as former MSU-West Plains Volleyball Coach Trish Knight, the reconstruction at the West Plains Civic Center, and most recently, the remodeling of Preacher Roe Boulevard.
Arrangements are pending at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, August 25 at 11 AM at the West Plains Civic Center. Graveside services will be held at an undisclosed date for family only.
Also, it has been announced that the 6th annual Haunting in the Hollows event at West Plains’ Galloway Park, which be held October 20 this year, will be dedicated to his memory.