Donald "Ean" Evans

[Bud Baker]

COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Bassist Donald "Ean" Evans of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has died of cancer at his home in Mississippi.

Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant said Evans died Wednesday. He was 48.

A statement posted on lynyrdskynyrd.com said, "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Ean Evans. Ean put up a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer and he will be sorely missed by family, friends and fans."

Evans was born in Atlanta, but moved to Columbus in eastern Mississippi after marrying his wife, Eva. He joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2001 and had been touring regularly with the band until being diagnosed with cancer in 2008, when he cut back on performances with the band.

Survivors include his wife and two daughters.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Mike Chain, a local guitarist who was close friends with Evans, told The Commercial Dispatch in Columbus, Miss., that Evans was always a dreamer with a "big heart."

"He was just one of those guys who was always a dreamer and always seeing ahead," Chain said. "And he was the most positive person I've ever met."

The above article is from MSN. It, as so often is the case, and like all the other articles I found announcing his death, didn't say what kind of cancer he had. But this article, about a benefit concert given for him on April 19th, identifies his cancer as lung cancer.