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Esther Everett
December 05, 1910 - August 21, 2008
Oskaloosa and formerly of Lacey, Iowa
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Interment: Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa.
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Esther passed away Thursday evening at the Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa at the age of 97 years, 8 months and 16 days. As was her wish, her body has been donated to science. Memorial Service arrangements are pending.
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Esther Everett was born near Lacey, in Adams Township, Mahaska County, Iowa to Mildred Fox Everett and Fred Everett on December 5, 1910. She grew up on two farms near Lacey, and first went to kindergarten in Pasadena, CA, then to Lacey Consolidated School to graduate in 1928.
Esther was active in the local and state 4-H. She was one of four selected by the farm editor of the Des Moines Register to represent Iowa at the second National 4-H camp on the mall in Washington, D.C. She judged clothing there on a winning team.
Esther attended Iowa State College for one year. She taught in a rural school in Richland Township north of Peoria for one year. She returned to Iowa State and joined the sorority, Alpha Epsilon of Sigma Kappa. In the summer she judged at county fairs and directed tours around ISC. After ISC graduation, she taught two years at Guernsey High School.
Esther them became Home Demonstration Agent (Home Economist) in Webster County for about six years, then a 4-H Specialist in Home Management. She taught 4-H leaders from the Iowa Extension Service at the college. Esther left for Michigan State College to work toward a masters’ degree, secured the degree, and stayed for 30 years doing research and teaching. She lived in one of the Home Management houses with home economics students.
Dr. Erma Gross, department chair, and Esther went to an international home management meeting in Scotland. They traveled to England and Ireland; took a ship to Norway, went to Finland, then to Sweden and Denmark. Several summers Esther taught at Northern Washington State University at Bellingham. From there she traveled for several weeks to Japan and Hong Kong.
While Esther was working on her doctorate, at the University of Chicago she met Kimi Hara from Japan. Later, Kimi’s family, Minako and Yochi, came to school at Michigan State University.
Esther taught summer school in Madison, WI, Northern State University at Bellingham, WA, West Virginia, Hamilton, Canada and New Hampshire.
At age 64, Esther retired after 30 years at MSU to return to Iowa. She cared for her mother who lived on the family farm. Esther continued living on the farm for 30 years after her mother died. Her interest in making primitive pioneer corn husk dolls shifted to twisting corn husk strips into two ply rope to seat chairs or stools. This was demonstrated at the Living History Farm, the Iowa State Fair, the Nelson Pioneer Farm, Lamoni Civil War Days, the Fort Atkinson Rendezvous, and the Montezuma fifth grade (her niece Becky’s class).
In summers, Esther traveled with Fred, her brother, to Hawaii, England, France, Germany and Scotland.
After 30 years on the farm, Esther purchased a house in Oskaloosa and enjoyed restoring it. Esther was active in AAUW and People to People. She loved to read and was a member of several book clubs. She was a staunch member of the Democratic Party.
Esther owned, in partnership with her sister a farm in Mahaska and Poweshiek Counties. She later became the sole owner. She donated the farm to the National Heritage Foundation, and in turn it was donated to the Conservation Boards in Mahaska and Poweshiek Counties. It was named Ever-Tru.
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Her family includes her brother, Lawrence Everett of New Sharon; eight nieces and nephews: Susan (Roland) Youngberg of Davenport; Pat (Howard) Cody of Orono, ME; Bruce (Edythe) Truog of Oviedo, FL; Leslie (Lois Braun) Everett of St. Paul, MN; George (Anna Lillios) Everett of Casselberry, FL; Becky (Jack) Sinkler of Montezuma; Gordon (Barb) Everett of Everett, WA and Floyd Everett of New Sharon; and several great nieces and great nephews.
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Besides her parents, Esther was preceded in death by her brothers: Jerry and Fred Everett; a sister & brother-in-law, Alice & Vyron Truog and a sister-in-law, Beverly Everett.
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Memorial contributions may be made to the Mahaska Hospice House or to the Nelson Pioneer Farm and sent to Lawrence Everett at 2029 175th ST
New Sharon, Iowa 50207.
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