Joseph Everton

Biography

BOUNTIFUL, UTAH – Joseph Knowles Everton passed away peacefully Thursday, December 20, 2012. He was born September 21, 1921 in Logan, Utah to Laura Pearl Knowles and Walter Marion Everton. He met Phyllis Gardner in 1938 after they were randomly matched for a Utah State Women Students Association dance. They did not realize at the time that it was the beginning of an eternal love for each other. Most of their courtship consisted of correspondence while he attended the Coast Guard Academy. On June 7, 1944, following his graduation, they were married in the LDS branch president’s home in New London, Connecticut. Their marriage was solemnized in the Logan Temple July 3, 1944. He served on a transport carrier until after the end of the war and then served another year on shore patrol duty in Hawaii.
Joe served in many capacities in the LDS church. He enjoyed his callings on the high council, various scout leadership positions, writing and directing road shows, working with the youth in the MIA, and of course leading sacrament meeting music and the ward choir. He taught Math at Utah State for a time and then dedicated his career to the computer industry. He was a programmer in the early stages of computers and progressed into development responsibilities and leadership positions. He completed a doctorate in computer science at the University of Utah in 1975. During his retirement he enjoyed his small farm, The Achers, in Centerville and the opportunity to sell and share the farm’s delicious fruits and corn. The name of the farm was just one of his many famous puns.
Joe’s greatest loves were the gospel, his wife, and his family. He especially enjoyed family gatherings for which he prepared the meals. His grandchildren have many fond memories of Memorial Day breakfasts and the time they spent readying the food with Grandpa.
Joseph was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis; brothers, Marion Knowles Everton (Lois), George Baugh Everton Sr. (Ellen), and Wallace Knowles Everton; and his sisters, Laura Elizabeth Wagstaff (George), Ella Knowles Merrill (Harry), Bessie Baugh Lambert (Carl), Edna Knowles Maurer (Robert). He is survived by his four children, Maude Elaine Norman (Van) of Salt Lake City, Joseph K. Everton Jr. (Maria) of Layton, Carolyn Turner (Terry) of Bountiful, John Gardner Everton (Carolyn) of Centerville, 20 grandchildren, 44 great-grand-children, and 5 great-great- grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Ruth Knowles Gold (Gus) of Brookings, Oregon and Naomi Knowles Christiansen (RW) of Boise, Idaho, and a daughter-in-law, Maren A. Ferguson.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the LDS Chapel at 1145 North 200 East, Bountiful, Utah. Friends and family may call Friday, December 28th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main, or from 8:45-9:45 a.m. at the LDS chapel prior to the services. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Salt Lake City, Utah. An online guest book is provided at www.russonmortuary.com.
The family wishes to thank everyone at The Inn on Barton Creek who so lovingly and compassionately cared for Dad. Thanks also to the residents and the LDS Barton Creek Branch who showed immeasurable love and kindness. They are truly the Greatest Generation. Also, we express our gratitude to Vista Hospice for their expert and tender care of our father and the support they gave our family in his final days. Our gratitude to the Bountiful 10th Ward members (past and present) for their lifetime of love and friendship to our family and for their willingness to host the funerals of our mother and father. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the LDS Church Education Fund or the LDS Humanitarian Fund.
We love you, Dad

Funeral Service

Saturday December 29, 2012, 10:00 at LDS Chapel
Click for Map and Directions

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the LDS Chapel at 1145 North 200 East, Bountiful, Utah. Friends and family may call Friday, December 28th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main, or from 8:45-9:45 a.m. at the LDS chapel prior to the services. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Salt Lake City, Utah.