William Ernest "Bill" Everett

1940 - 2019

William "Bill" Ernest Everett passed from this life on Sunday morning, April 14th, 2019 in his home in Baker, Florida. He fought an on-going battle with his heart and agent orange induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Everett was born November 3, 1940 in San Diego, California. He attended Valley Forge Military School, Wayne, PA. For several years he was a weekly dancer on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. He enlisted in the United States Army upon completion of military school.
He was preceded in dead by his parents, Howell Ernest Everett, Jr of Bristol, Tennessee and his wife, Betty Ross Everett. His first wife Merle La Verne Carmack Everett, his second wife, Jacqueline Raud Everett, and his special relative, Catherine Thomson of Bristol, Tennessee.
He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Monique and David Herrera, and Michelle and Broadbent, both of New Jersey. His four grand-daughters, Lindsey Page Herrera, Leah Park Herrera, Ava Marie Broadbent, and Vivian Broadbent, New Jersey. He considered Phil Darbonne, Louisiana, as the son he never had. He had four cats "his kids" which he loved, Louie, Katie, Jolene, and Pig Pen.
He is also survived by three sisters, several aunts, nieces, and cousins.
He is grieved by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 811. And by his dear friends, Lenora Cook, Teresa Ryan, Beth Norton, and Paula Stokes.
Everett served in the United States Army for 21 years and retired. While in the Army, he served in Vietnam and was decorated for Valor with the Bronze Star medal for heroism and received the Purple Heart for wounds he received in combat. He also received the award of the Soldiers Medal, Air Medal, and numerous other awards and decorations.
He sponsored two Vietnamese born women to come to the United States after the Vietnam War and worked with them to achieve United States citizenship.
He was awarded the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal by their Governor and General Assembly.
After his military retirement, he worked for 19 years as facilities manager for Donald Trump's Atlantic City properties.
Everett served the Purple Heart National Organization as their National Junior Vice Commander and was recognized with the MOPH National Commanders Award as Patriot of the Year. He served on the National advisory board and began several Purple Heart chapters in the Florida Panhandle, including the Crestview Area's Chapter 811. He was chartering one at the 77th Special Forces when he died.
He was a member of several civic organizations. He was a past Board Member for Milligan Water Works, Milligan, FL.
He was a tireless advocate for veteran affairs and was instrumental in obtaining the Department of Veterans Affairs Eglin Outpatient Clinic into the panhandle of Florida. Everett was the spearhead for Purple Heart monuments in Freeport, Marianna, Tallahassee, Pensacola, Milton, Fort Walton Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. He was also responsible for the recognition of Purple Heart highways, parking spaces at public facilities and the area's first Purple Heart College and Newspaper. He built the Memorial "Fallen Heroes" Wall at the Eglin Armament Museum, paying respects to servicemembers from Florida who lost their lives in battle. It is the only one of its kind in the State of Florida. Everett was also the organizer for statuary at the Eglin Armament Museum honoring military working dogs and memorializing and honoring those who have made a difference in the field of Nursing. He worked with the committee from Eglin Air Force Base for the past 15 years for their annual POW/MIA Ceremony. He was an advisor to many other military events and ceremonies.
He authored an ACC/SEC football column published weekly by the Crestview News Bulletin and throughout the Armed Forces Network.
He loved horticulture and once owned his own nursery. He enjoyed cooking, cutting grass, ACC and SEC football Saturdays, football Bowl Seasons and the University of Tennessee Volunteers.
In lieu of flowers Everett asked that donations be sent to the Northwest Florida State College to fund a nursing scholarship in his name.