The Rev. Harvey Arnold Everett Jr. of North Andover and formerly of Oak Bluffs and Lancaster, Pa., died of natural causes on Oct. 14 at The Meadows of Edgewood Retirement Community. He was 91.
Raised in Canon City, Colo., he was the son of the late Harvey Arnold and Margaret Williams Everett who worked toward land ownership under the Homestead Act of 1862.
After graduating high school in 1947, he was awarded a four-year scholarship to the University of Colorado at Boulder. He was drafted into the Korean War in 1950, earning the rank of master sergeant and a Bronze Star for his service in the U.S. Army, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division. Following the war, he received his bachelor of divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, N.Y. He was ordained as an American Baptist minister in 1955.
From 1956 to 1980, he served the American Baptist Home Mission Societies in New York city. In 1968 he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia. He wrote a book for youth, The Future Won’t Wait, and had the memorable honor of meeting the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
From 1980 until retirement in 2002, Mr. Everett continued his mission-focused work in nursing homes and retirement communities.
He was a member of several churches over his lifetime, most recently the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury, where he served as a deacon.
In addition to his wife of 32 years, Deborah Benson Everett, he is survived by his sons Matthew A. Everett of Minneapolis, Minn, Mark A. Everett of Downingtown, Pa., and Kevin Everett of Christiansburg, Va.; three step-children, Carolyn S. Claman of Andover, David H. Shertzer of Mountain Lakes, N.J., and Kathryn-Ann O. Shertzer of Oak Bluffs; nine step-grandchildren and a nephew. He was predeceased by siblings Hilda and Albert Everett and Ida E. Buckles.
A celebration of life service will be held at the Petersburg Bethel Presbyterian Church in Petersburg, Pa., on Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Howard L. West and the Rev. Tyler Downing officiating. Interment will follow at the Mooresville Cemetery.
Donations can may be made to The Endowment Fund at The First Congregational Church of West Tisbury, P.O. Box 3000, PMB 3111, West Tisbury, MA 02575.
Arrangements are under the care of the Conte Funeral Home in Andover and Brown’s Funeral Home in Huntingdon, Pa.
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