Nathan Scott Evans

Nathan Scott Evans, 44, of Indianapolis, passed away on September 1, 2026, after courageously fighting esophageal cancer for a year and a half.

Nathan, better known to most as Nate, was born on August 10, 1982, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Richard and Cheryl Evans. He attended Warren Central High School.

Nate was one of the hardest-working people you could know. He spent many years working as an eviction specialist, a job he genuinely loved and took great pride in. He also spent several years building office furniture and, in his younger years, worked at IDS as a sandblaster. No matter what job he was doing, Nate worked hard and took pride in providing for the family he loved so much.

Of course, anyone who worked with Nate also knew he was a smartass. He loved giving his coworkers a hard time, but most of the time it came from a place of caring. Giving someone grief was often Nate’s way of motivating them, looking out for them, or simply letting them know he liked them.

Hunting and the outdoors were a huge part of Nate’s life. He had many hunting friends throughout the years, but none more special than his daughter, Haley. She was his favorite hunting partner, and the memories they made together in the woods were ones Nate treasured deeply. 

Nate hunted throughout Indiana and traveled to Double D Ranch in Ohio, where his hunts included blackbuck antelope, ram, and Watusi. His adventures even took him to Florida, where he wrestled an alligator. He loved the woods, the excitement of a hunt, fishing, his collection of guns, and everything that came along with being outdoors. Some of Nate’s happiest moments were spent doing what he loved, especially when he could share those moments with the people closest to him.

And after the hunt came another one of Nate’s favorite things—cooking. Somehow, one smoker wasn't enough for him. Nate ended up with three different smokers and, on more than one occasion, had all three going at the same time, cooking up the meat he brought home from his hunts.

Nate was also incredibly proud of his son, Raymond, and loved watching him work on his Corvette over the last two years. Nate patiently waited for the day he could finally take that first ride with his son, and this past May, they finally got to share that moment together. Nate also loved watching Raymond develop a passion for fishing.  Seeing his son enjoy the outdoors and take on something Nate himself had always loved made him incredibly proud.

Nate was a jokester through and through—and if you ever saw Bart, you know exactly what we mean. Nate proudly had a Bart Simpson tattoo on his backside, and he was never shy about showing it off to just about anyone lucky—or unlucky—enough to be around. That was simply Nate. He loved making people laugh, pulling jokes, giving people a hard time, and making sure there was rarely a dull moment when he was around.

Twenty-four years ago, Nate’s best friend, Joe Cotterman, introduced him to Melissa Hockersmith. Neither of them could have known then just how much would grow from that introduction. Together, Nate and Melissa built a life, a home, and a family. They raised their two children, Raymond and Haley, and shared countless years of love, laughter, hardships, memories, and everything in between. Their two English bulldogs, Stone and Junior, completed their family and held a special place in Nate’s heart. After 24 years of sharing their lives together, Nate and Melissa finally made it official. On August 22, 2026, they were married in Nate’s hospital room. Their close friend Mike Nickolich performed the ceremony, with Joe, Raymond, and Haley by their side. It was a simple moment surrounded by the people who mattered most, celebrating a love and a family that had already been built over more than two decades.

Nate was stubborn, hardworking, funny, adventurous, and completely himself. He could make you laugh, make you mad, give you a hard time, and make sure you knew exactly what he thought. But underneath all of it was a man who loved his family fiercely. The stories, jokes, hunting memories, family moments, and laughter he leaves behind will continue to be told for years to come. Nate was preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert “Al” and Judith Evans, and Jerry and May Curtis. He is survived by his wife, Melissa; his son, Raymond; his daughter, Haley; his parents, Richard and Cheryl Evans; his siblings, Christopher and Debbie; his beloved English bulldogs, Stone and Junior; along with many extended family members, friends, hunting buddies, coworkers, and others whose lives were made a little more interesting simply because Nate was part of them. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Please reach out to Melissa, Haley, or Raymond for additional information.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Nate’s honor to organizations supporting esophageal cancer research and awareness, including the American Cancer Society or Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association.

Nate’s time here was far too short, but the life he lived was full of stories worth telling and memories worth keeping.

May the woods be endless, the hunt always good, and until we hunt again.