Donald Dean Everman

Donald Dean Everman age 96, of Lake Panasoffkee Florida, passed away Tuesday July 18, 2017 in Leesburg, Florida. Mr. Everman was born March 6, 1921 to Roy Jay and Jessie Belle Everman in Wann, Nebraska. There he grew up on a small farm, studied business at the University of Omaha and enlisted in the US Navy at the beginning of World War II. He proudly served as an aviator in the US Navy for 23 years, 4 of which he served as co-pilot onboard the PBY-34A (Black Cat) search and rescue flying boat in the South Pacific; he was well decorated for his service, retired as Lieutenant Commander in 1964 and remained a true patriot throughout his life. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lake Panasoffkee where he especially enjoyed his weekly Sunday School lessons. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Ceresco, Nebraska (32nd Degree Free Mason for 70 years), the Elks Lodge of California Maryland, the V.F.W. Post 10084 of Lake Panasoffkee, and the Military Officers Association of America. After his time in the US Navy he remained a lifetime enthusiast in military aircraft and especially flying boats. He was an outdoorsman from his early youth, hunting and fishing and becoming a self-taught talented taxidermist. Throughout his life his love of nature found him creating and maintaining beautiful gardens in all of his homes which progressed into his interest in raising poultry and exotic birds; he won many blue ribbons over the past 30 years for his select poultry, pheasants and parrots at the Sumter County Fair, in fact his home became popular as a picturesque and educational site for school children visits. He was a talented carpenter and because of his interest in building and repairing anything, he became a natural inventor and actually received a patent for one of his creations. He was predeceased by his wife of 25 years Margaret Everman, former wife of 29 years Shirley Ann Craddock, and his son Dean Everman. He is survived by his daughters: Sandra Decker (Dave), Lana Williams (Jerry), and Melanie Richardson (Mike), 13 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. Visitation and Services Funeral service will be held on Monday July 31, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. (with visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.) at Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, FL. Graveside service following at 12:30 p.m. at Florida National Cemetery Bushnell, FL. Donations can be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars (https://heroes.vfw.org) in memory of Lieutenant Commander Donald D. Everman, USN Retired.

Donald Dean Everman

March 6, 1921 - July 18, 2017