Sandra Everett

1933 - 2021

Sandra Jean Everett

1933-2021/A Life of Love and Adventure

Murfreesboro, TN—Sandra (Sandy) Jean Everett, beloved mother, accomplished musician, intrepid traveler, and dear friend to so many, was born in Kansas City, Missouri on October 18, 1933 and passed from this life on August 8, 2021 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee after a long illness. She was the eldest child of Harry Maxine Stephens and Matthew Lee Stephens' four children. In her final years, she often confided that she had a wonderful life, filled with friendship, laughter, adventure, and, most of all, love.

She was an outstanding and popular student, almost winning the homecoming queen crown when she was in seventh grade. Music was her constant companion in her school years and soon she and her oboe were regulars on the state level, good-naturedly vying with future sister-in-law Mary Ellen Everett for first chair. She attended Tulsa University in pursuit of a Music Education degree, transferring to the University of Oklahoma her final year.

After her college years, her friend Mary Ellen set up Sandra with her brother George, and it didn't take Sandy long to decide that he was the man she wanted to marry. It took George a bit more time to commit. She became a stewardess on American Airlines in an effort to encourage him to come to the point, but he thought it would be a great experience for her. And it was. Her favorite frequent passenger during her two years in the air was Eleanor Roosevelt, who always asked after her family by name, and tried to save her a seat so they could chat on the flight. Sandy recalled that the former First Lady had "the kindest eyes I had ever seen."

George finally indicated he was ready for marriage by lending her some of his favorite classical music LPs. Younger sister Marsha was a junior bridesmaid and gave her soon-to-be brother-in-law the mumps a few days before the ceremony. Though there was concern about lasting effects from the premarital mumps, first son Stephen was born nine months and ten days after the wedding.

The young family settled into their new home in Sand Springs, Oklahoma where George and his brother operated one of the local newspapers—Sandy was the Society Editor—and the family printing business and management of The Hunter's Horn magazine. Son Ross was born next, followed by daughter Ellen. Best friend Janey Moore's husband Dan was the local dentist and, when he needed a crew to support fluoridation, Sandy and Janey organized the effort to get signatures on the petitions, far exceeding the number required. The children of Sand Springs can thank their efforts for their strong teeth. Sandy also began directing the youth choir at the local Methodist church, a talent she shared across three states during her lifetime.

When George wanted to pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa, Sandy supported him every step of the way. The family of five relocated to Iowa City where they became lifelong friends of Bob and Jean Luchi. George and Sandy's hundred-year-old house became the place for faculty and grad students to watch the moon landing as well as leave their bail money before a protest.

Sandy and George next moved to Salt Lake City, where George joined the faculty of University of Utah's College of Communications. The family became active members of Christ United Methodist Church where George served as Lay Leader multiple times and Sandy directed the church's youth choir. They again found dear friends, including Bob and Dorothy Pearce, who still live in Salt Lake City. Sandy partnered with the local ward to create an Interdenominational Youth Choir that sang in Temple Square, creating an opportunity for Methodist and Mormon teens to harmonize.

The next chapter took them to the University of Tennessee. Sandy flourished in Knoxville, where she again was directing a youth choir, growing the children's and youth music ministry until the youth choir had sixty members. That choir was the first such to be invited to sing at the Holston Annual Conference's Memorial Service. One of her proudest moments arrived as they flawlessly sang "Sine Nomine" and Concord's pastors, Kenneth Carder and Karl Netting, shared that joy along with dear friends including "Cis" Lee.

Sandy's love of travel found an outlet when she became an important member of the Roger Q Tours team during the Knoxville World's Fair and subsequently started her own company, Everettours. George delighted in telling his colleagues that he could not teach during the summers because he worked for his wife. The lucky travelers enjoyed the special including hot air balloon rides and a full professor sharing the history of the area they were traveling through along the way.

A highlight came when the Australian tourism commission brought Sandy and George over to map out a tour of Western Australia, an itinerary that is still used by many tour operators today. She also served on the leadership of the National Tour Association, where her itineraries were popular items in the professional library. George confided that one of his greatest pleasures was watching his wife take a room of strangers and transforming them into a gathering of friends in one evening, a feature at the start of every Everettour.

Upon George's retirement, they returned to his beloved mountains in the Salt Lake valley where they reconnected with old friends and again became stalwart members at Christ United Methodist Church. Another of Sandy's accomplishments was her leadership in helping CUMC to become a Reconciling Congregation.

And they traveled. Sandy and George visited every continent, even Antarctica, and made friends all over the world.

After George's passing in 2010, Sandy relocated to Murfreesboro to be near her daughter Ellen. Her gift for hospitality shone again as she was elected as Hospitality Chair at AdamsPlace's Residential Living facility within a few months of her arrival. She served in that capacity for several years, sharing her warmth of spirit as well as her delicious pecan rolls.

Sandy is survived by her three children and their spouses: Steve Everett and Kathi Bailey-Allen; Ross and Kay Everett; and Ellen and Chris Myrick; as well as grandchildren Claire and Jackson Myrick; and her sister Marsha (Marci) Shilman, brother-in-law Ed Shilman and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held online on September 9, 2021. Please email libraryellen@gmail.com for details.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Grace Children's Hospital in Haiti: https://advance.umcmission.org/%2fp-587-grace-childrens-hospital-gch-and-outpatient-clinic.aspx