Darrell died doing what he loved the most
Motorcycles were his life until the end
DARRELL Evans was born on November 5, 1959, in Monto, the second son of Rosina Hain and the late Maurice Evans and stepson of Don Hain.
He was best known in the Toowoomba region for his love of motor vehicles, particularly motorcycles, and for his business Darling Downs Concretors Warehouse.
In his earlier years, Darrell attended the convent in Gatton, when his family settled in Toowoomba Darrell finished his primary schooling at Gabbinbar State School and then completed his high school education at Centenary Heights High School.
This is where Darrell and Debbie met and they were married in May 1980.
After leaving school, Darrell worked at Dunlop IBC, JJ Richards, Sleba Farming, Burke and Wills and the Federal Hotel.
He then went onto be a concretor for many years before he and Debbie decided there was a need for a concretors warehouse in Toowoomba.
Working both businesses for a while until they were both able to be full-time at the warehouse. Twenty-one years in operation proved that they made the right decision all those years ago.
Always disappearing on little adventures on the bike or in the Mustang was where Darrell
found enjoyment in the later years.
Whether it was on trips with his brother or mates and even once with his daughter on their bikes.
Sometimes it was just up around the corner in the Mustang taking the grandchildren to school.
When he wasn’t cruising or riding, Darrell could be found in his much-loved garden or upstairs working on his next project.
Darrell was tragically killed in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident in the Northern Territory on the Finke Road on May 5.
His son Daniel had wanted to ride the Finke Desert Race.
His father travelled with Daniel in a support vehicle for him as it was only the prolog practice for the race.
The actual race was in June. Darrell was so looking forward to the trip as his brother Royston decided to go and Daniel’s best mate Brad.
The love of bikes gave them all a special bond and mateship.
Darrell was riding his new Triumph Tiger Adventure bike with petrol and water in the side saddles and racing ahead so he would be ready for when Daniel and his mate Brad came through from practice on the track.
While on his way to the next stop, Darrell lost control of his bike, and despite the efforts of everyone who was with Darrell at the time, there was nothing that could be done for him.
However, his family said Darrell had died doing what he loved and was with his son, and they were always riding together and best of mates as well as father and son.
Darrell always wanted to race the Finke Desert Race himself but due to injuries he had to cancel both times he had entered the race.
Just days before his tragic crash, Darrell had rung his wife Deb to say what a great time they were having and joked how he wanted to do it next year.
“I told him to dream on old fella and he just laughed,” Mrs Evans said.
Darrell was a devoted husband to Debbie for 38 years and a loving and very proud father of his two children Tammy and Daniel.
He was father-in-law to Melinda and devoted “Poppy” to Maddison and Chloe Seefeld, Macy, Peyton and Jordi Evans.
Darrell was also the loving brother of Glenn, Janet New- lands, Royston, Terry, and Veronica Storey and step-brother to Chris Hain, Vicki Sullivan, Amanda Hain and Michael Hain, and a loved uncle to all their families.
He was a son-in-law to George and Lorraine Briskey and brother-in-law to Gavin, Wendy and Wayne and loved uncle to their families.
Darrell was a great mate to many and a member of Ole Skool Krome as he drove his pride and joy a 1965 Yellow Mustang.
Members of the club formed a guard of honour at his funeral and also drove their beautiful cars behind the Burstows 1934 Ford Hearse.