John Donald “Don” Everly Jr., 86, of Kingwood, and Pikesville, Md., passed away on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn Rothschild Everly; children, Anne Wales Everly and John Donald Everly III; and grandchildren, Nora Thorbjornsen Everly, Eva Thorbjornsen Everly, Declan George Cuddy, Colin Howard Cuddy and Rose Glendolyn Cuddy. He is predeceased by his parents, Glendolyn Morey Everly and John D. “Happy” Everly; and his sister, Mary-Elizabeth Hull.
Don was born in Kingwood in 1936 and graduated from Kingwood High School, Class of 1954. He went on to graduate from West Virginia University in 1958, where he majored in geology. His first job was as an oil wildcatter for Standard Oil in Colorado and Wyoming. In 1961, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Lieutenant Everly was stationed in Iceland, and later Beaufort, S.C., where he met his first wife and mother of his children, Nancy Head Thode.
Don and Nancy moved to Baltimore, where he worked for the Head Ski Company and subsequently for the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, D.C., as a railroad accident investigator. In Baltimore, Don and Nancy had two children, Anne and John, and dogs, Scruffy and Gretchen. Don and Nancy divorced in 1972 and he later remarried to Carolyn, with whom he enjoyed 46 years of marriage until his passing. Don and Carolyn shared a love of the outdoors, antiques and dogs and were joined over the years by beloved canines Tammy, Daisy, Nicky, Henry, Sammy, Poppy and Lilah.
Don was a passionate hobbyist and collector. As a young naval officer, he was written up in the Beaufort Gazette for his beachcombing art, which consisted mainly of tiki carvings and painted sea shells. He later maintained an extensive flower garden and won numerous blue ribbons for his dahlias at the Maryland State Fair. He tirelessly prowled local flea markets and antique shops in search of treasures which might range from an old screwdriver to a fine piece of flow blue china. Don collected pre-war Standard Gauge Lionel Trains, Britons figures, and a wide variety of other objects, with a particular interest in Victorian England. He travelled regularly to England, where he felt a special connection to the people, culture, landscape and history.
Above all, Don loved his family cabin in Kingwood, and the people of Kingwood. As a boy, he had a close bond with his grandfather, George W. Morey, who sparked and nurtured in Don a love of the outdoors, science, nature and handiness that would last his whole life. Don fondly remembered exploring the mountains of Preston County with his beloved childhood dog, Butch. He spent countless hours hiking, spelunking, turning over rocks in river beds in search of fossils and studying the ground for deer tracks and other animal signs. Later, he spent much of his spare time and retirement in Kingwood and delighted in making large fires in the cabin’s stone fireplace and as well as regular trips to town to Monroe’s, the Golden Lounge and the Eagles Club where he engaged in lively conversations with local friends and strangers alike. Among many things, Don will be remembered fondly by his family and friends for his humor, verve, intelligence, curiosity and his outgoing, friendly and helpful nature.
There will be a reception at the Preston County Inn in Kingwood from 2-6 p.m. on Saturday March 25 to celebrate Don’s life. All are welcome. Don will be buried at Maplewood Cemetery in a private ceremony. Please omit flowers. Contributions in Don’s memory may be sent to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Kingwood Funeral Home.
Condolences:
www.kingwoodfuneralhomewv.com
