Loran Evans

Loran Evans, 55, of Asheville, NC, passed away on March 7, 2023 from complications after a stem cell transplant. Loran was born on September 15, 1967. He lived in Australia for a time with his mom before they traveled across the world back to the States to settle in Ohio. After graduating from Hudson High School in 1986, he went on to earn his bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering at the University of Dayton. Although he held an engineering degree, his passion was sales. His first job was with the Cleveland Electric & Illuminating Co. After moving to Atlanta, Ga he took a sales job for a small company, Z-Mar Technology, working on 100% commission (he was very proud of that). His entrepreneurial spirit led him to purchase a lawn and landscape company, called Elite Property Maintenance. After selling Elite he moved to Asheville in 2008 and created a folding bike company called Melon Bicycles. He also purchased Lakeland Gear, and eventually redesigned and rebranded the products to become the company Rightline Gear, Inc.

Recognizing Rightline’s potential, he sold Melon and grew Rightline through product design, innovation, and sales. He worked hard, even through cancer treatment, to grow Rightline into a successful company with products in national retailers in both the outdoor and automotive channels, as well as international distributors. His hard work paid off and he sold Rightline Gear in October of 2021, eventually transitioning out to full-time retirement. Loran was both an analytical and creative person. Although he did not have an accounting education he knew his numbers and skillfully navigated the business world. He loved to solve problems with math. His creative side showed up when designing products, creating brands, landscaping, making jewelry and designing his tattoos (he had two).

Loran had many passions, including sports, both playing and watching. He mastered the multi-tasking skill of “sport-sleep”, where you simultaneously nap and watch a game. His other great passion was music. He started playing electric guitar as a teenager and was in bands in high school and college. He had to convince his advisors at Dayton to let him minor in music while majoring in engineering. He continued playing guitar into adulthood and picked up bass as well. 

He loved sharing his favorite bands and songs that meant something to him with his family and friends. He loved to share his strong opinions, too. He met his wife Sue when he was working in Cleveland and they married in 1998. They had two beautiful daughters, Amanda (21 yrs old) and Nicole (19 yrs old). He loved his family and was proud of both girls. He had looked forward to growing their relationships as young adult children and had so much more he wanted to give.
Loran and Sue shared a love of the outdoors and enjoyed living in the mountains of Asheville. They enjoyed road biking, mountain biking, trail running and hiking together. They loved to travel and enjoyed trips all over the United States and Europe. Most recently they all traveled to Aruba, and he took his third trip to his favorite destination, Greece. They had just purchased a Revel travel van and had started exploring in it.

Loran loved the Lord and enjoyed serving the church in different ways, including as an elder, a discipleship leader, and playing music. He was first diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the fall of 2019. He fought
his way into remission but had a relapse in the fall of 2022. The cancer journey was never easy or simple, but he was a strong fighter who endured more complications and procedures than anyone should ever have to. He always kept his sense of humor and never gave up. He enjoyed reconnecting with many friends and family over this time period.

Loran was predeceased by his mother, Bonnie Evans. He is survived by his wife Sue and their children, Amanda and Nicole, his father, Bob Evans, and step sisters Kathee and Kim (Glenn). 

Family and Friends are welcome to attend a celebration of life memorial service which will be held on Thursday, March 16th at 7:00pm, at New Life Community Church in the Worship Center at 147 New Life Dr., Asheville, NC 28804.

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