John Matthew Everson

John Matthew Everson, long time Sitka resident, passed away peacefully in Seattle, WA on December 31, 2018 surrounded by his family.

John was born in San Francisco, CA on July 6, 1950 to Joseph and Virginia Everson. He was the fourth of ten children. He attended St. Gabriel’s Elementary School in San Francisco and the Salesian High School in Watsonville, CA. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Psychology. He spent many years in Northern California. There, in Fall River Mills, he met his future wife Marnie Chapman and began his medical career by working as an EMT/ambulance driver. He and Marnie lived in Round Mountain, Eureka and Trinidad. Health care, especially emergency medicine, was his calling. He returned to school, attending College of the Redwoods, Foothill College and Stanford University to become a physician assistant (PA). His work as a PA brought him and Marnie to Alaska in the 80s, first to Bethel then to Skagway where he ran the health care clinic and was elected to city council. He moved to Sitka in the 90s to work with the SEARHC Community Health Aide Program Training Center. He was a UA faculty member and later became director of the Training Center, taking great satisfaction in helping people from throughout Alaska become community health aides and practitioners in their own communities. John retired at the age of 62.

John was devoted to his family; they were the joy of his life. Laura was born in 2000 and Sally and Theo were born in 2006. John enjoyed camping, fishing, daily walks with the dog, reading, travel and other adventures with his family. His greatest pleasure was simply being with his kids, supporting them and helping them go about their daily routines.

John and Marnie shared their love for over thirty years, and his memory will live on with Marnie and with his three children, Laura, Sally and Theo; brothers, Martin Everson, Daniel Everson, Thomas Everson, Timothy Everson and Reverend Joseph Everson III, M.M.; sisters, Jane Everson, Joan Everson, Mary Garner, and Theresa Everson; brother-in-law Dennis Garner; sisters-in-law Lucille Everson, Sharon Everson and Li Ping Everson; mother-in-law Toni Diaz; brother-in-law, Marlon Sloan; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

In remembrance, John’s family encourages people to support blood drives and consider becoming part of Be The Match: The National Marrow Donor Program. His family is forever grateful to the many friends who stood by them and supported them throughout John’s long, brave battle against myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Memorial services will be Sunday, January 20, in Sitka. All are welcome to join any part of the service and to share memories and photos. We will start with a walk through Sitka National Historic Park. Meet at the Visitor Center at 1 pm. Dress for the weather. Dogs and kids are encouraged. Services are at 2:30 pm in Sweetland Hall at the Sitka Fine Arts Campus followed by a community potluck reception in the same location at 3:30 pm. Those wanting more information can contact Clarice Johnson at 738-2601

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