Evan Matthew Crabdree
September 28, 1989 - September 16, 2021
Our beloved Evan Matthew Crabdree was taken from us on September 16th, 2021, 12 days shy of his 32nd birthday. Evan was as unique and exquisite as a single flake of snow that falls to earth. Being an accomplished mountaineer and woodsman, he could often be found scaling Colorado’s peaks or running its wild rivers. Evan referred to the mountains as his “church” and was a steadfast parishioner who rarely missed an opportunity to worship there, attending with wonderment and awe. He had a fearless determination to discover what lay around every turn on the trail, each bend in the river.
Evan's life was always on the right path, regardless of the hardships he had to weather. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Evan never failed to rise. In no way was he materialistic. Even with empty pockets he considered himself a rich man, having amassed a vast fortune of life experience, a man who only wanted enough. This is telling of the wisdom he'd gained over time and beyond his years.
Music was in Evan’s heart. He was an adept musician and a virtuoso on the guitar. Playing and touring with his band for many years produced a matchless camaraderie between him and his band mates.
Evan attended the University of Colorado, Boulder (CU) and attained a bachelor's degree, majoring in sociology and history. School just honed what was already a keen intellect. While Evan excelled in academics it was not his calling. He began to realize that what he wanted to do, wanted to be, didn't require a degree.
Evan loved all animals, most especially horses and, even more so, his dog Ares; rarely would you see one without the other. His love of horses started at a young age; he went to Bronc riding school when he was just a kid. He took his (ideal) job caring for boarded horses and overseeing stable operations seriously and did it well. His family considered him both a horse AND a dog whisperer. He surely was on a first name basis with all the horses he looked after. He carried himself with a genuine cowboy swagger and never shied away from hard work. Evan liked to get dirty and possessed true grit, an uncommon characteristic these days. Simply put, the man was tough as nails.
Evan's humor was sure to make you crack a smile. On those rare occasions when Evan was a little down, he did his best to make others laugh. His joy for life was contagious and warmed the heart of just about anyone he crossed paths with. He lived each day with humility and grace. It was near impossible to escape his charisma, to not be drawn into orbit around this immense and shining star. Evan’s family all cherished him; we are blessed for every second we had with him, blessed to have been showered with all the love put forth by his generous heart, his gracious spirit. Such an old, kind soul to be found in such a magnificent young man.
An excerpt from a Ralph Waldo Emerson poem says that “…to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!” On that count, Evan, yours is an unparalleled success story. See you in church.
Services
Wednesday, September 29
Celebration of Life
1:00 PM
Reception to Follow
The Barn at Evergreen Memorial Park
26624 N Turkey Creek Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439