Everett Hartwell

Everett Clair Hartwell, age 90, of Lily Pond Rd, Lyndonville, VT passed away peacefully on January 16th, 2024. Everett was born in Burke, VT on July 25th, 1933, son of Norris and Adeline Hartwell.

From an early age, he learned to drive a team of horses with his dad, and his hard work ethic continued as he worked on farms in the Burke area. At 17 he lied about his age to join the Army National Guard and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War.

He met his wife, Joan, roller skating and they married in February 1955. He built their home in East Haven, Vermont where they raised their three children. In 1979 they purchased their dream home in Lyndonville.

Everett worked for most of his life at Vermont Tap & Die and Northeast Tool, which relocated to Greenville, NC in 1993 and they made the move as well. They returned home in 1995 and he worked at Lydall for a few years before retiring.

Although his formal education was not beyond grade school, he was a lifelong learner. He studied and got his GED in the 1970s, and not wanting to be left behind in the computer age, he spent time learning various computer programs and eventually how to build a computer from the ground up.

Being an avid and accomplished hunter, his garage is a display case for his love and ability to bag the big ones. Hunting was a lifelong love that he often extended to other states – to lengthen his season.

His adventurous side led him to get a scuba diving certification, bicycle down Rt1 on the coast of Maine and VT 100. He hiked many area summits and Mt. Katahdin in Maine, dirt biked the seldom-seen parts of the Northeast Kingdom, and offered his weekends to Ski Patrol at Burke Mountain.

In his later years he found tamer hobbies to keep busy. He started golfing and fostered a love of the game that he passed on to his grandchildren. He started woodworking and made many different pieces of furniture and beautiful ornamental boxes. He also continued his love for skiing well into his eighties.

He was always the star of the show, even when there was no show. If he was there, you knew, either through his laugh that paused the room or his ability to conjure a crowd with his mischief and humor. He would round up his friends and family annually to create unforgettable, sometimes unfortunate, memories that we all carry today. Although he has passed this life, we know he has his family and friends in stitches in the other life – carrying on his tradition of being the life of the party.

He is survived by his patient and understanding wife Joan, of 68 years, who always supported his ambition of the day, brother Steven Hartwell (Debbie) Island Pond, son Michael Hartwell (Annie) Elizabethton, TN, daughters Nancy Graves (Fred) Sutton and Jody Garfield (Doug) Sutton, Grandchildren, Alannah, Jacob, Nathan, Tyler, Jayvin, and Leanne, Great Grandson Talen, and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his best friends Delbert Reed of East Haven and Branson (his dog).

He was predeceased by his parents Norris and Adeline Hartwell, siblings Harold Hartwell (Vickie), Ruth Smith (Tom), Ginny Bunting, and son-in-law Howard Spencer.

A final thought: Aging, as is said, is not for the faint of heart, but he chose to defy it at every turn, keeping his mind in a place of youth even as his body tried to tell him otherwise. Well, his body won out but the lesson of his gritty determination and staying young at heart will live on in those who admired his persistent will to never give in or give up.

Visiting hours will be held at Guibord-Pearsons & Sayles funeral home in Lyndonville, VT on January 27, 2024 at 3:00 to 5:00 PM. A private burial will be held in the spring at the East Haven cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to Caledonia Home Health and Hospice, 165 Sherman Drive, St. Johnsbury, Vermont, 05819, or an animal shelter of your choice.

Memories and condolences may be shared with family at CaledoniaLifeServices.com.