BLAINE COUNTY JOURNAL, NEWS-OPINION Wednesday, October 17, 2001

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EVERETT SHARPLES

Everett M. Sharples, 82, passed away at his home in Yakima, WA on Saturday, October 13, 2001. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2001, at 2:00 p.m. in the Wesley Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Wesley Methodist Church or the Parkinson's Foundation. Keith and Keith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Everett was born on January 12, 1919, in Zurich to Rose Ella (Bosley) and Judson Sharples. He attended grade school in Zurich and High School in Chinook, then majored in business law and accounting at the Great Falls Comercial College. He farmed and ranched with his parents near Zurich and on May 13, 1942, he married Jean D. Mc Gowan in Chinook. He purchased the ranch in 1948. Everett was also a potato buyer for L.S. Taube Company of Kansas City, Missouroi. He also served as the Chairman of the School Board for District 17; was the general manager of North Montana Potatoes, Inc. of Harlem; was one of the founders of the North Montana Seed show; and was chairman of the first mosquito abatement district formed in Blaine County.

Everett and Jean lived on the Zurich ranch until 1953, when they moved to Gering, Nebraska where he was employed by the Lockwood Corporation. In 1954 he transfered to Grand Forks, North Dakota as a manager of Lockwood manufacturing plant, returning to Gering as Vice President of Marketing for Lockwood in 1958. He was an active member of the Gering Lions Club, the Scotts Bluff Rotary and the Gering Methodist Church.

In 1963, they moved to Yakima where Everett developed a sales territory for the Pacific Northwest for Decco Division of Wallace & Tieman. In 1980 he retired from Decco Division of Pennwalt and formed Post Harvest Sales, Inc. with Tom Walton and Del Ethridge. This company was sold to Northwest Equipment in 1985.

Everett was a member of the Wesley Methodist Church, the West Valley Lions club, the West Valley Kiwanis and the Elks. He enjoyed flying, golf and bridge.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Jean of Yakima; three daughters, Vicki Jhnson (and husband Bill) of Boise, ID, Robin Jhnson (and husband Mike) of Washington D.C. and Traci Mitchell (and husband Jeff) of Palmdale, CA; eight grandchildren; one great grandson; two brothers, Wallace and Frank Sharples; one sister, Ruth Patrick; and two sister-in-laws, Edith Sharples and Lucy Brown.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers and two sisters.

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