Obituary of Vivienne Carolyle Everett

Vivienne C. (Meilicke) Everett, a Gig Harbor resident since 1980, died at home on January 27. She was 94 years old. Vivienne (Vi) was born on August 25, 1918 in Minneapolis and was brought, as an infant, to Watertown, South Dakota where she was taken in, informally adopted and reared by Genevieve (Robar) Meilicke with the help of her son, Kenneth DeWitt, who was 17 years older than Vi. The family moved often during Vi’s early years, living in South Dakota, Ohio, Michigan, California, Oregon and Washington, finally settling in the Tacoma area. Vi attended Stadium High School and graduated in 1936, proudly wearing a dress she sewed for herself. She married Rolla D. Everett in 1941, again wearing a dress she made. She worked at the Boeing facility in Tacoma while her husband served in the European campaign during World War II. Vi lived in Tacoma until her husband joined the U.S. National Park Service in 1952 and the family moved to Mount Rainier National Park. Life in the park service also included living in Yellowstone and Denali (then called Mt. McKinley) National Parks. While at Denali Vi became a lay-teacher for her youngest three children using a correspondence school curriculum provided by the state of Alaska to families in areas without schools. Always the seamstress she made parkas for each member of the family during the first year in Alaska. An opportunity to work at the park service national offices in Washington DC brought the family east to its final park service home. Following retirement Vi and her husband returned to the Pacific Northwest and built a home in Gig Harbor. Vi’s thirty-two years in Gig Harbor marked the longest period she lived in any one place. During these years she was active in monthly luncheons and other activities with the Stadium Class of ‘36 until the group disbanded in 2006. She and her husband were active in the Gig Harbor United Methodist Church and both served at different times as treasurer and were very involved in the building of the present church facility. Vi served as an usher for several years, attended the Rhododendron Luncheon every May for approximately 20 years and participated in the prayer chain even after being sidelined by a stroke in 2002. Her son, Larry, cared for her at home until her death, a gift beyond measure. Vi is survived by four children, Carolyn Morado, of Ann Arbor, MI; Freda Everett (David Preston) of Seattle; Linda Everett of Tukwila; Lawrence Everett of Gig Harbor; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother, brother, and her husband of 44 years. A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held at the Gig Harbor United Methodist Church, 7400 Pioneer Way on Friday, February 8 at 2 PM. The family requests that remembrances be sent to the Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH food bank, the Gig Harbor United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.