Skip to content

October 26, 1928 - February 11, 2019
About a decade ago I would catch my dad leaning in towards my mum saying, "We've had a good run, haven't we?"

On the 11th of February, 2019, John Everist passed away with the love of his family at the age of 90.

His endless descent into the abyss of dementia had finally reached the end. Born to the hail of "Whittle's got another one!" in the small village of Belmont in rural Lancashire, England on October 26th, 1928, John Everist was #3 in what would eventually become a brood of 7.

Everist attended Belmont Primary School and at age 14 went on to apprentice as a carpenter in nearby Bolton. In 1951 Ev married his first love, fellow Belmonter, Monica Halliwell on September 22nd in the Belmont Congregational Chapel.

Then in a bold move in June of 1954 Ev & Monica left post-war Britain and immigrated to Canada on the Queen E II in hopes of starting a new life together in a land full of new hope and opportunities.

Arriving in Canada via New York they settled into booming Calgary where Ev set up business in the building trade.

Ev then moved further west to the interior of BC in 1965 building houses in the growing Shuswap and Okanagan areas.

In 1967 Ev took on a superintendent job at the Mica Dam project and in 1968 he was finally able to buy his family their first home - "the one with the million dollar view" of Okanagan Lake. Still restless in 1968 he was off again, this time "up north" into the Yukon to work on the big mining project at Venus Mines on Tagish Lake, and then further up to the mine sites at Faro & Anvil.

By late 1970 Ev, now known here in Canada as John, had returned to the Okanagan and was finally settling in. In 1971 he applied for the job of head carpentry instructor at the newly formed Cariboo College in Kamloops. He was accepted for the job without a teaching certificate and was hired solely on his extensive knowledge and expertise in the building field. He would go on to earn his teaching qualifications at BCIT over the following summers.

In 1989, at age 60, after 18 years at Cariboo College he hung up his hammer and retired from a job he had absolutely loved.

Ev/John is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Monica, his devoted and only daughter Pamela and son-in-law David (Blair). In Calgary, his sister-in-law June Whittle, niece Heather (Andy) Gray and great nephew Colton. In Lancashire his younger sisters Nancy (Arthur) Taylor & Olive Waring plus nieces & nephews: Melvin (Jean), Paul (Yvonne), Elaine (Kevin), Christopher (Anne), Jayne (James), Robin (Julie), Kathryn and in Australia, Stephen (Allison), plus many great nieces & nephews.

John was predeceased by his parents Alice (1974) and Bernard Thomas (1980), younger sister Elaine (1942); eldest sister Margaret Joan (Rogers - 1977), younger sister Kathleen (Maden - 2007), eldest niece Shirley Anne (Rogers-Turner - 2014), big brother and best mate Thomas Desmond in January 2015, brother-in-law Herbert 'Bertie Willie' Maden in October 2015 and brother-in-law Harry Waring in February 2018.

Our John, Ev, Dad was an accomplished carpenter, builder, teacher, instructor, mountain climber, pot-holer (underground caves), horseman, farrier, publisher and pilot. Whatever he set his mind to do, he did it! He was the strongest man I've ever known.

Dad ~ Mum and I love you so much and will miss you till the end of time.

You were such a strong, amazing, talented and gifted man who will be missed for eternity.

You may have finally "popped your clogs lad" but thanks for being there for us as a family. We hope you are now at peace and galloping around the clouds on your beloved Grey Stuff or reaching the top of yet another spectacular mountain.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Donald Smith & Jodey, the nursing and care staff at Pleasant Valley Manor in Armstrong & Creekside Landing in Vernon for the care, attention and compassion they all gave to our 'Lancashire Lad' throughout his last years.

It was a very long rough road to the end, but Mum and I endured it with him every step of the way until the end.

A cruel ending for my Dad - knowing, seeing and hearing nothing, but... deserving everything.

To: Jessie, Shauna, Julia, Lena, Ramona, Bev, Lisa, Brittany, Colleen, Tabby, Sharon, Linda, Vicky, LauriLee, Eunice, Nancy, Dan, Mandy, Christina, Erica, Trina, Melissa, Blair, Katrina, Marianne, Claire, Rudy, Tanya, Kelsey, Cathy, Kim, Ashley, Eli, Jocelyn, Melinda & Michael - thank you!

You all know why.

Your attention and care to my dad did not go unnoticed and your willingness to listen to us, give us a hug when we badly needed one, or help wipe away our tears was appreciated more than you all will ever know. Thank you!

However, Mum, David & I could not have managed any of this without all the staff at Creekside Landing & Pleasant Valley Manor and Dad's short stay at Silver Springs. To all of you we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

In respecting our John's wishes, cremation has occurred and was entrusted to Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services in Vernon.

No service will be held in Canada. Interment will be held at a later time and held with immediate family only in England.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in John's name to the Alzheimer Society of BC at 102 - 3402 27th St., Vernon, BC, V1T 1S1 or the Vernon Branch of the SPCA - 4800 Haney Rd, Vernon, BC, V1H 1P6.

Goodbye... to the strongest man I have ever known

The strongest man I have ever known was always my rock, my sounding board and my shoulder to rely on.

You were the strongest man I ever known but

I could not stop what happened and make you you again.

Unable to hear, unable to see, unable to walk and unable to respond, it was a long heartbreaking journey.

"We will keep him comfortable" they told me, as I sat daily and watched the days slip slowly past you.

All I could do was hold your hand and cry inside.

For here lay the strongest man I ever known.

How would I manage in this crazy world without you.

But... your struggle finally came to the end and the tears fell,

the strongest man I have ever known was... gone.

I know you're out there somewhere.

I see your smiling face released and free.

I hope you find that next mountain to climb,

cave to explore, plane to fly and horse to ride.

Till then I'll miss you every day for no matter what

I do this world is a lonelier place without you.

I will always love you, and will miss you more than

you will ever know, but now... I must let you go.

Goodbye... to the strongest man I have ever known.


 Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services

Additional Photo(s):

  

  



Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.