"Give him all of the credit because he was never one to seek it," former Ohio Valley Bank President and Board Chairman James L. Dailey said of Evans, who died Tuesday in Riverside Methodist Hospital at Columbus. He was 75.

"Merrill worked behind the scenes," Dailey said. "He did so much for agriculture in southern Ohio, but he was never one to seek the spotlight."

Richard Stephens, Gallia County's educator for agriculture natural and resources through Ohio State University Extension, echoed those sentiments.

"Merrill had a lot to do with a lot of things," Stephens said. "He was instrumental in creating the C.H. McKenzie Agricultural Center and was always helpful at the fair.

"His heart was in Gallia County and Gallia County agriculture and this is a tough loss for us," he added. "He had a lot of paths he could have taken in life, but he chose to farm and that about says it all."

At the time of his passing, Evans was owner of Evans Cattle Co. and president of Evans Enterprises.

He began his career in local agriculture as a clerk at the Saturday sales of the Gallipolis Stockyards, then joined Evans Packing Co. in 1955. Two years later, he and George Carter cofounded Carter and Evans Construction Co.

He maintained numerous affiliations over the years and was 1999's recipient of the Ohio Cattlemen's Association Award of Excellence. At the 2006 Gallia County Junior Fair livestock sale, Evans was honored by the fair board for his support of the fair and the sale, going back to the early days of both in the 1950s.

Those efforts left an indelible impression on Fred Deel, former 4-H Extension agent for Gallia County, who said Evans was always there to support agricultural youth and 4-H.

"Merrill was a tremendous asset to our community," said Deel, now director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia. "This is a great loss, especially to the agricultural community. He was instrumental in so many things in Gallia County, particularly the McKenzie Center. He as much as anyone was responsible for making that a reality.

"A lot of people never realized what he did," Deel added. "His work and his contacts made the Gallia County Junior Fair livestock sale one of the premier sales of its kind in Ohio."

Active in the startup of local businesses, Evans served on the Holzer Hospital Foundation Board of Directors for 18 years and the Ohio Valley Bank board, following in his father Emerson E. Evans' footsteps, for 23 years.

"He worked very hard for the bank over the years," recalled Dailey, a cousin to Evans. "He'd been one of my friends all my life. He was one of the great guys and Gallia County's going to miss him."

In addition to his wife, Gallia County Local Schools Superintendent Dr. Charla Evans, Evans is survived by a daughter, Jodie Davis; two sons, Alan and Matt Evans; six grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren and a step-great-grandchild; a daughter-in-law, Terri Moore; two brothers, Dan and Larry Evans; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Jay.

Calling hours at the Willis Funeral Home are 5 to 8 p.m. today, with services set for 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gallia County Junior Fairgrounds Relocation Fund, in care of Kathryn Massie, P.O. Box 931, Gallipolis, Ohio 45631.