Grandfather, US Marine, traveler, joker, bibliophile, Christian

Larry E. Everett died on Friday, May 11, three years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 73.

Mr. Everett was born on November 22, 1944 to Edwin and Florence (Smith) Everett in the village of Andreas, Pennsylvania. However, his birth certificate lists his birthday as November 23 since his was a home birth in a time and place when the doctor filled out the birth certificate.

He was one of six children, with three older sisters and two younger brothers. He grew up helping in his dad’s gas station and car repair shop which was located on the other side of the creek next to the family’s home.

On July 2, 1962, when he was just 17, he joined the United States Marine Corps. Two years later, on August 22, 1964, he married Beverly I. Gerber in the Zion’s Stone Church in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania. The newlyweds moved to the base of Camp Lejune, North Carolina and had their first child, Colleen Ann on March 3, 1965. They then moved to the naval base in San Diego, California, where their second daughter, Bonita Sue, was born on August 4, 1967.

Mr. Everett served in the Vietnam War as a tele-type/crypto tech and radio tech from November 1967 to December 1968. When he returned from Vietnam he was stationed once again in San Diego, where the couple’s third daughter, Melissa May, was born on March 9, 1970.

Over the next 14 years, he was stationed three times each in 29 Palms, California and Okinawa, Japan, and once in Camp Pendleton, California. While in the USMC, his jobs included tele-type/crypto tech, radio tech, maintenance electronics chief, electronic instructor and test engineer. He rose to the rank of master sergeant and was awarded many medals for his marksmanship. He continued to enjoy this hobby after retirement at the gun range.

The friends the Everetts made while on active duty became their West Coast family. The Coles, Reinhards and Sumstads got together with them regularly for pinochle games, family vacations and all family celebrations, even after his retirement from the Marine Corps, in December 1983.

In January 1984 the family moved to Claremont, where Mr. Everett began working at Loral EOS as an electronics engineer. Later he worked for Lockheed Martin, from where he retired in 2009.

The family took many road trips and enjoyed camping in their tent trailer when the children were younger, visiting 46 of the 50 states. After retiring, he and his Beverly travelled abroad several times, visiting six foreign countries. They also ventured back to Pennsylvania each summer to attend family reunions.

He was known for his great sense of humor and practical jokes and was a voracious reader and card player. He regularly had four books going at one time: one in the car, for when he needed to wait for his wife somewhere; one in the bathroom; one in the bedroom; and one in his back pocket, which he read everywhere else in the house. He loved playing pinochle, bridge and solitaire, and enjoyed many other games which he played with his entire family.

He was a Christian and knew the Bible inside and out. He had many conversations about religion throughout the years with clergymen as well as his daughters and grandchildren. He also read both the Koran and the Book of Mormon so he would understand those religions and be able to have intelligent conversations with people of those faiths. He was a staunch Republican and kept up on politics and world affairs.

Mr. Everett had special relationships with and was very proud of each of his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time with them separately, and as a family. He was devoted to his family and a loyal friend, always there to help however he could.

His favorite charities, to which his contributed to regularly, included St. Jude’s and Wounded Warriors. He also supported his wife in her charity work with Project Love and his daughters’ work with Samaritan’s Purse and AbilityFirst, Claremont Center.

Mr. Everett was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 50 years, Beverly I. (Gerber) Everett, and his three sisters, all of Pennsylvania, Fay Hauck, Miriam Zlomsowich and Leah Everett.

He is survived by his three daughters, Colleen, wife of David Miller of Lake Forest, California,  Bonita, wife of Richard Ramos of Fontana, California, and Melissa Everett of Claremont; brothers Dale Everett of Pennsylvania and Ray Everett of Tennessee; and grandchildren Rebecca Miller, Michael Ramos and Christina Ramos.

A viewing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, June 2, with services at 10, at Revive Church, 1364 N. Towne Ave., Claremont. A military graveside service will be held at 11:30 at Oak Park Cemetery, 410 Sycamore Ave., Claremont, with a reception to follow at Revive Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org, Samaritan’s Purse at samaritanspurse.org, AbilityFirst Claremont Center at abilityfirst.org, or to a military charity of your choice in the spirit of Mr. Everett’s giving personality.