Arthur E. Bevans, of Columbus, North Carolina, formerly of Layton, passed away Mon, Dec.10, at White Oak Center, Tryon, North Carolina. He was 89 years old. 

Born to Eston and Jennie (Jorgensen) Bevans just days after the stock market crash in 1929, the family moved from their Maplewood home in the spring of 1930 to the Bevans homestead outside of Layton, New Jersey, where Eston was born. Arthur (Sonny) was the fourth of five generations to live on the farm.

He attended the Layton one-room school until 1940, when he was one of the first students to help open the new Sandyston Consolidated School. While a 12-year-old student there in 1942, he was selected to serve as a plane spotter during World War II. 

Under the auspices of the U.S. Army Air Corps, the spotting station was at the old Layton school. All planes passing over the area had to be called in to an office in Newark, New Jersey. He said he was excused from school early so that he could reach his post for his 3 p.m. shift. 

Sonny was a graduate of Newton High School, New Jersey, class of 1947. In the latter part of his high school career as an agriculture student, he was chosen to help clear the land for the agriculture shop at the new Ryerson Avenue school site.

One of his earliest jobs was working at Haney’s Lumber Mill in Flatbrookville, New Jersey, while also helping his father run the family farm. He joined the Sussex County (New Jersey) Road Department in 1953, working out of the Layton garage. He retired in 1985 as foreman with 32 years of service.

In 1950, he married Elizabeth (Betty) Hough and they raised five children (Karen, Cynthia, David, William and Lori) on the family farm. As with many of the farmers in the area, life centered around family and community.

Sonny served his community as a charter member of the Sandyston Township Volunteer Fire Department. He also served as a Boy Scout Leader, along with Den Mother Betty when his sons were in scouts. 

In 1971, the farm was relocated to a new site in Layton as a result of the Tocks Island Dam project. They sold the farm in 1987 and moved to Columbus.

Betty passed away in 2012, and he remarried in 2013. 

He is survived by his second wife, Margaret; his five children, Karen (Leon) Bevans-Cassidy of Branchville, New Jersey, Cynthia (John) Mansfield of Columbus, David of Atlanta, Georgia, William (Susan) of Leesport, Pennsylvania, and Lori (Timothy) Nichols of Columbus; his four grandchildren, Christopher (Priscilla), and Zachary Bevans, and Joseph and Anna Nichols; his sisters-in-law, Dale (Edward) Schoepf of Stella, North Carolina, and Susan (William) Longcor of Green, New Jersey; his stepchildren, Laurie (Nigel) Dessau of Austin, Texas, Tracey (William) Mellett of Trophy Club, Texas, and Gary Kennard of Union City, California; and four step-grandchildren.

Services took place Dec. 15 at the Delaware Valley United Methodist Church, Hainesville, New Jersey, with burial following at the Layton Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army, 239 Third Ave. E., Hendersonville, NC 28792.

An online guest register is available at mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Tryon