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ALFRED WILLIAM EVERETT
Born: Aug 02, 1921
Date of Passing: Nov 08, 2016
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryALFRED WILLIAM (BILL) EVERETT August 2, 1921 - November 8, 2016 Peacefully and with quiet dignity, Bill passed away on November 8, 2016. Bill was predeceased by his wife Mary (nee Milner); his son Jamie; his parents Horace and Catherine Everett and his sister Kay Pennock. He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Bill (Suzanne), David (Holly), Margot (Ralph) and Peter (Georgina); and his grandchildren, Katie (Geordie), Sarah, James (Alexis), Darcy (Robert), Liam (Jessie), James (Amy), Douglas (Rebekah), Geoffrey (Neisha), Mollie, Elisabeth and Mac and his great- grandchildren Nicola, Andrew, Britton, Poppy, Maya and Teagan. Bill was born in Duncan and raised in Comox and Vancouver. He attended Maple Grove and Point Grey High School before attending University School on Vancouver Island. In 1939 he was accepted into Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. In 1941, he joined the Canadian Navy and was assigned to the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England where he graduated as a Midshipman. Bill joined the war effort aboard the British Battleship HMS King George V and was later transferred to the Aircraft Carrier HMS Victorious. In 1943, he was assigned to serve on the HMCS Saskatchewan escorting convoys to Murmansk and later served on the HMCS Kootenay. By the time he left the Navy, Bill had achieved the rank of Lieutenant and had been mentioned in Dispatches for distinguished service. Following the war, Bill met Mary in Halifax, was married in Calgary and began working for the family business in Winnipeg, where he settled and raised his family. Family was Bill's first priority and he was always there to offer his love, encouragement and support. He was very involved in the Winnipeg business and sporting community as a director of the Blue Bombers and part owner of the Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball team. He also served as the Aide-de-camp to the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba. When the family business expanded to Vancouver, Bill took the opportunity to return to the city he had grown up in and considered home. He again became very involved in the Vancouver business, arts and sporting community, serving as a director of the Bank of B.C., the Vancouver Art Gallery and the B.C. Lions. Bill lived an energetic and interesting life. His years in the Navy inspired his interest in Canadian Maritime art which he spent much of his life researching, collecting and ultimately donating most of his collection to the Vancouver Maritime Museum and Victoria Art Gallery. He was extremely proud of his family and it was very important to him to write a book (which he did after he turned 90) about the family's history to pass on to future generations. His book is a tremendous accomplishment and treasured by the family. He enjoyed a very active social life, loved travelling, playing golf and being with his many friends. He liked simple pleasures like getting in the car and exploring the city and finding good places to buy fresh produce. Bill was a true gentleman and widely respected. The family extends their heartfelt thanks for the love, care and support provided by Mimi Vaugier and Dorothy Tam. We also wish to thank Dr. Brad Fritz for his kindness and professionalism in the care he provided, which gave Bill such comfort and confidence. Finally, we express our sincere appreciation for the care and kindness provided by all the staff at Arbutus Manor and more recently, the veteran's senior facility at St. Vincent's Brock Fahrni Pavilion. An Eight Bells Memorial Service will be held Sunday, November 27, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Jericho Station, followed by a Celebration of Life in the Clubhouse at 4:00 p.m. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to St. Vincent's Brock Fahrni.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 19, 2016
Condolences & Memories (1 entries)
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For many years I worked for the Everett family in Winnipeg which often took me to Vancouver where, when possible, I would wangle an invitation to lunch from Bill. Sometimes he'd take me to the Vancouver Club, sometimes to the Yacht Club, sometimes to The White Spot --- a Vancouver Salisbury House type restaurant --- and sometimes to a lunch counter at a near by, bit seedy, downtown hotel. No matter where we went for lunch Bill would know people and they would stop by the table seeking advice, or simply to say 'hello.' I often thought he must have been personal close friends with half of Vancouver and whether being greeted by a "name" at the Vancouver Club, or a definitely not "name" at the hotel lunch counter, what was clearly evident was all looked up to Bill, and Bill treated all with the same courtesy, respect and attention. This broad base of friendships was likely one of the things that allowed Bill to see whatever business issue I might be trying to deal with from the 40,000 foot level and he was always able to give me an overview, put the issue into perspective, and invariably say, "I'll make a call to X this afternoon and see what he/she can do." Bill always knew who to call, and it was always the right person to help me. He may not have invented networking, but he was a natural because he had a genuine interest in everyone and their stories. Best I could tell, when it came to people, Bill had a photographic memory. He not only knew everybody, he knew who they were related to, who they were friends with, who they worked with, and he'd want to know about their family, friends, and co-workers. I am glad I had a chance to know Bill and to work for his family. I extend my condolences to his children, Bill, David, Margot and Peter. - Posted by: Sheldon Bowles (Employee ) on: Nov 19, 2016