Faith Patricia Evans, who served in the state House of Representatives from 1974 to 1980 and was the nation’s first female U.S. marshal, died Jan. 9 at Castle Memorial Medical Center, after a prolonged illness due to a muscle-debilitating disease, her family said. She was 76.

Evans, who served as the U.S. marshal for the District of Hawaii for nearly 10 years after being appointed by President Ronald Reagan, was the Republican state representative for the Kailua-Kaneohe district.

Legislators who served with Evans described her as a hardworking lawmaker unafraid of investigating issues and pursuing the right path.

"She was a strong, independent type of lady who went after (correcting) what she thought was wrong," said former state Sen. Whitney Anderson.

Anderson recalled Evans making sure that asbestos removed from the state Capitol and placed in the Kapaa Quarry in Windward Oahu did not adversely affect Kawainui Marsh.

Evans was born and raised in the working-class area known as Damon Tract near Honolulu Airport by her father, who worked as a plumber, and her mother, employed in housekeeping at St. Francis Hospital.

After graduating from Farrington High School in 1955, she earned a degree as a registered nurse and worked at St. Francis Hospital.

Evans, whose mother was of Puerto Rican descent, was a founder of the Puerto Rican Heritage Society in Hawaii in the 1980s.

In 2000, she headed the Puerto Rican Centennial Commission of Hawaii.

Evans, proud of her ethnic heritage, was quoted in a Honolulu Star-Bulletin article as saying Puerto Ricans are not a very well understood ethnic group.

"For a long time we didn’t get the respect we should have," she said. "We are there to show the younger generation what can be done."

Husband Noel said his wife was active in the Windward Oahu community, serving as president of the Olomana Community Association and Kailua Neighborhood Board.

Until her death, she remained president of the board of directors of Hawaii’s Plantation Village in Waipahu, a group that preserves the ethnic history of immigrants to Hawaii.

"It was a great life for all of us," Noel Evans said.

Evans is also survived by her son John, daughters Tricia and Kathleen, brother Donald Ernesto and sisters June Shultz and Leona Parker.

Visitation is at 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. John Vianney Church, 920 Keolu Drive, Kailua.

Services will take place at 10:30 a.m. Aloha attire is requested. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations to Hawaii’s Plantation Village. Online condolences may be sent to borthwickoahu.com.