Everett Bickford

CONCORD - Everett Bickford died peacefully Dec. 11, 2014, surrounded by the love of his family under the care of Concord Regional Hospice at Havenwood/Heritage Heights.Born Nov. 12, 1922, and raised on a farm in Rochester on what is now known as Bickford Road, to parents Ernest and Frances (Kendall) Bickford. He graduated from Spaulding High School in 1940, the first class to graduate from "that new $1M school." Immediately after Pearl Harbor in 1941, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served his country with pride and honor seeing action at the battles of Guadalcanal, Rendova and New Georgia while stationed with the 9th Defense Battalion in the Solomon Islands. In February 1944, Sgt. Bickford was one of two selected out of thousands to a field appointment for officers training which was nearly complete at war's end. He was honorably discharged and completed his degree in economics at Yale University in June 1947.He was recruited into the Federal Bureau of Investigations and had a distinguished career that spanned 30 years with assignments in Baltimore, Md., Detroit, Mich., Albany, N.Y., Boston, Mass., Nashua, Concord, and Portsmouth, as a special agent. After retirement from the F.B.I., he worked as a deputy sheriff for Strafford County, an investigator for the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office and finished his career as a private investigator. An example of the best of the greatest generation, he was a strong, patient and caring man. "Bick" was known for his love of country, family and for being a man of deep faith. He was extremely intelligent with many interests starting with a lifelong love of reading, poetry and U.S. history. Everett and Dru enjoyed vacations and travel together, including many fond memories of times spent in Florida. Happiness was time spent in the garden, watching the Red Sox or Patriots, puttering around at the "camp" in Milton, or being a loving Grampy at family gatherings. Everett and family returned to live in Rochester from 1973 until 2002 when he moved to Heritage Heights of Concord, where he was an active member and participant in several activities and groups.He was predeceased by his parents and older brothers Lawrence, Roger and Albert. He leaves behind a loving family, his wife of 67 years, Drucilla (Roberts); a daughter Tara Bickford Bailey and husband Glen of Scottsdale, Ariz.; son Thomas Bickford and wife Dorothy, of Kittery Point, Maine; son Timothy Bickford and wife Collette of Lebanon, Maine; and son Tad Bickford and husband Christopher of North Andover, Mass.; along with his dear grandchildren: Jennifer Bickford, Erica Bickford, PhD, Jonathan Bickford, Morgan Caraviello and husband Peter (newlyweds of three months), Lauren Bickford and Jeremy Bailey. He also leaves a dear sister-in-law, Mary Bickford, of Rochester, and cousin Burton Bickford and wife Esther of Lebanon; Ralph Leib of Concord; and many nieces and nephews as well as great- nieces and nephews.He belonged to the society of Former Special Agents of the F.B.I., New Hampshire Criminal investigators Association, First Church Congregational of Rochester, and was a longtime Cancer Society volunteer.

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SERVICES: Visiting hours will be Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Barrows Chapel at Heritage Heights, 149 East Side Drive, Concord, 03301.A memorial service will be held Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m., at First Church Congregational, 63 South Main St., Rochester, 03867.Donations may be made to First Church Congregational, 63 South Main St., Rochester, 03867, or Former Agents of the FBI Foundation, 3717 Fettler Park Drive, Dumfries, VA 22025.Cremation is under the care of the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., Rochester, 03867; 332-0230; www.edgerlyfh.com.