Of the 13 individuals who attended the high school in Dryden and were enlisted in the Armed Forces when killed during the War , Roy Evans is the only person buried here in Dryden.
Though born in Manitoba, Roy finished public and secondary school in Dryden. His father, Barney Evans was a foreman at the Dryden paper mill. Roy's mother's name was Hazel. Roy had a younger sister named Marilyn. Sometime after the War, the Evans family moved from Dryden to British Columbia. Marilyn has since married and her married name is Shantz. The last that is known of her is that she currently lives in the United States.
It is unfortunate, (though not due to lack of effort) that no direct family member of Roy Evans has been contacted. A few people in Dryden remember Roy, but only Helen (Austin) Van Patter has commented on his character. Helen remembers him as friendly, but someone who "stuck to his books". Helen also adds that Roy was tall and good looking.
During two of Roys years at high school, he was a paper boy, delivering the Winnipeg Free Press.
Immediately after high school, Roy moved to northern Canada where he was employed by the Hudson Bay Company. He received an honourable mention for his sales articles. In addition, he worked for the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company.
In February 1941, he enlisted with the R.C.A.F. and after a very successful training stint as a wireless gunner, he received his wings as a flight-sergeant.
The exact nature of Roys military service is not known. The Dryden Observer article of October 9, 1942 states that Roy was killed in an R.C.A.F. plane accident in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The fact that Roy had spent a leave from service at home just before his death, deeply moved his many friends in Dryden.
Roys funeral was held at the Dryden United Church. Principal J.D. Smith and Mr. Scott represented the Dryden High School staff. Twenty students from the school also were in attendance.
The military part of the funeral was performed by the Canadian Legion. Six sergeant-pilots and a bugler, all from Winnipeg took part in the funeral ceremonies. Flight-Sergeant Switzer, of Prince Rupert, accompanied the body from British Columbia to Dryden.
It must be noted that Dryden High School lost five alumni, and the community of Dryden lost five airmen
within a span of 2 months in the fall of 1942. James Thomas Reid went missing over northern Europe on September 13.
Roy Allan Evans was killed in plane crash in British Columbia on October 2. Leonard Charles Leach was killed in a plane crash in England on October 14.
Frank Jerald James and Frank Levi Olsen, both stationed at Malta, went
missing on November 10, 1942.
He gave his honours to the world again, and now sleeps in peace