After a prolonged battle with cancer, Donald “Ean” Evans, 48, bass player for Lynyrd Skynyrd and adopted Columbus son, passed away at 4 p.m. Wednesday at his home in Columbus, Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant confirmed this morning.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Ean Evans. Ean put up a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer and he will be sorely missed by family, friends and fans,” said a statement released on lynyrdskynyrd.com this morning.
Mike Chain, a local guitarist, was close friends with Evans.
“I loved him, man,” Chain said. “He”s a great guy. He just had a super big heart. He was just one of those guys who was always a dreamer and always seeing ahead. And he was the most positive person I”ve ever met.
“We were all having down time, we were spending New Year”s Eve together, when this Skynyrd thing was happening, and it didn”t look like it was going to happen. But he just set his feet in the ground, man and was ready to stand up and fly to the moon. And he did. He was just a big inspiration.”
Radio and television personality “Scotty D” also has known Evans for years. One of the most striking things about the musician was his dedication to his family and to God, Scotty D said.
“I think ultimately he was at peace with the things that were happening,” he offered. “His greatest worries were for his family and not himself. Because he knew he was going to be taken care of. Ean was so much bigger than a star. He was a complete human being who was just doing what he loved to do. His music came second only to his family and God.”
For the last five years of his life, Evans dedicated a lot of his time as the musical mentor of 15-year-old Kelsey Collins. Joy Collins, Kelsey”s grandmother, partially was responsible for the “Mississippi Kid” benefit held last week at the Columbus Fairgrounds for Evans.
“It”s still pretty raw,” Joy Collins said, first taking several minutes to compose herself. “Ean was a humble down-to-earth true friend who was a mentor to my family. The last time I talked to him was a few days ago, and I told him we loved him and we were humbled and blessed to have known him.”
“We all loved him; he was like a father to me,” said Kelsey. “He was very down to earth and would have done anything for me.”
Kelsey and Evans wrote about 12 songs together during the five years they knew each other. One of which, “Lord, You”re Like the Wind,” Collins shared to express the grief she now shares over her friend and teacher: “I know you”re here, no matter where I go. Your voice seems to linger all around me, and even when I”m wrong, you stand by my side. You”ll never leave, never leave me alone.”
Shortly before he died, Evans made a final request of Kelsey, she said.
“He told me he wanted me to help him write a song called ”Do Or Die” about what he was going through. And still we plan on writing that song,” she said.
Evans was born in Atlanta, but moved to Columbus after marrying his wife, Eva. He joined with Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2001 and had been touring regularly with the band until being diagnosed with cancer in 2008, when he cut back on performances with the band.
Evans is survived by his wife and his daughters, Sydney and Andrea.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete will be announced by Memorial Funeral Home in Columbus.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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