Kevin Andrew Everitt

Kevin Andrew Everitt, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, was called home to the Lord on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. To the great frustration of his living brothers, Chris and Dave, Kevin was quicker to reunite with their late father Merwin Everitt, mother Mary E. Everitt, brother Paul Everitt, sister Rev. Anne Everitt and beloved nephew Aaron Everitt. Also preceding him in death was Kevin’s uncle Jim Soper of Ohio, cousin Tim Soper, and nephew Eric Bear. Sadly, Kevin and Christina lost two babies, Francis and Faith, to a miscarriage and premature birth, respectfully, that he is now reunited with.

Survivors to cherish his memory are his wife, Christina Everitt, and their three children, Ian (Lulu Cao) Everitt of Kansas City, MO, Elizabeth Everitt of Kalamazoo, and Emily Everitt of South Haven; his two brothers, John “Chris” (Lisa Kennedy) Everitt of Davie, FL and David (Renee) Everitt of Cadillac. Other important family members left behind are his stepmother Mary Dershem-Everitt of Leslie, MI; nephews: Matt (Taylor Robinson) Everitt; Bryan (Kelsie Keeler) Everitt and daughters Maria, Katie and Abby; Dillon (Stephanie Conrad) Everitt and son Dax; and Bill and Brad Chesney. Nieces include: Amanda (Shane McGowan) Everitt and her children Bella Padilla Everitt and Eric Thomas; Isvara (wife of the late Aaron) Everitt and their children Audie and Ava Everitt; Heather Cosgrove and her daughter Kailey Kozminski; Courtney (Beth) Kane-Barbaglia; and Katie Kane; sister-in-law Linda Squires; aunt Dottie Soper; cousins Andrew Soper and Laurie (Bob) Langley of MN and children Lauren and Spencer; as well as two step siblings: Daniel Dershem, and Dianne (James) Byrum and their two adult children, Jim and Barbara. Equally important to Kevin are his surviving brothers and sisters in Christ, co-workers at LECO Corp., friends (especially from high school) and neighbors.

Kevin was born in Mason, Michigan on January 9, 1960 to Merwin and Mary (Soper) Everitt. Kevin was a 1978 graduate from Leslie High School. Plagued by his own demons, Kevin found himself in Harbor Hall Rehab Facility in Petoskey, MI in February 1989, after his brother Paul saved him from ending his life. He successfully completed rehab and went on to receive his associate degree in accounting from North Central Michigan College in 1991, his bachelor’s degree in business administration accounting with a minor in business management and social science from Davenport College in 1993 (with honors), and his master’s degree in business administration in April 1996 from Western Michigan University.

On August 13, 1994, Kevin married his best friend and soulmate, Christina (Flynn) Everitt, and together they raised three beautiful children: Ian, Elizabeth, and Emily. As a husband, Kevin was deeply committed, abundantly patient, a constant and unbreakable rock for Christina to lean on, and a passionate, loving friend. As a father, Kevin served as a worldly example of God’s unending and unconditional love. He taught his children to love and to serve others humbly, to always seek understanding, and to persevere in all things.

Kevin began his professional career at JW Messner in Grand Rapids as the Merchandise Manager in their Marketing Tools division. With a change in employers, Kevin moved his family to Farwell, MI and held jobs as the Accounting Supervisor at CME Mitsuba Corp., then the Plant Controller at Morning Star Publishers and finally the Plant Analyst at Eagle Picher Automotive, all located in Mt. Pleasant, MI. Facing a possible job relocation, Kevin proactively moved his family once again, this time to South Haven to work as the Plant Controller for Noble Metal Processing. In 2010, Kevin finally found his dream job working as the Cost Accounting Manager at LECO Corporation in St. Joseph. He loved the work he did, he was proud of LECO as a company, and he cared deeply about the owners, his boss, his co-workers, and his friends there. He would have celebrated 11 years of employment with LECO on December 10, 2021.

With his children grown, Kevin began earnestly working through the final step of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step recovery program he had been committed to since 1989. He spent the last several years of his life sharing his experiences of addiction and helping others achieve sobriety. This calling started at faith based Celebrate Recovery meetings in Kalamazoo, where he made many friends, but it eventually led him to the Benton Heights Celebrate Recovery group (which was closer to work and home). He felt blessed to use his experiences there to help others achieve sobriety. He became a leader at Celebrate Recovery and led men’s Twelve-Step Study meetings on Tuesday nights. He helped men and women pursue better lives by being a regular member at meetings, mindfully engaging others, and being a constant steady supporter to all. Kevin felt this was God’s ultimate purpose for him, and he believed that if he could help even one person, then all the hardship he faced was worth it. He loved this group and what they were accomplishing together. His absence has left a hole that only our Lord can fill. He was and remains a hero to many.

Kevin found joy in many things. During his adult years, he used his skills as a videographer and could be counted on to capture family events, his children’s sporting, musical, and theatrical events, and even his furry four-legged kiddos! He loved taking pictures of nature, of his family, and of moments both significant and ordinary. He was instrumental in providing photos for the South Haven Cross Country and South Haven Track Facebook pages, was the photographer for the 2015 Hope Reformed Church Directory and was a volunteer photographer at various community events. Kevin, being a private person by nature, enjoyed his time at home, working around the yard, watching tv and spending time with his wife and daughter, Emily. There was hardly a moment at home where Kevin wasn’t petting and cuddling with one (or more) of his dogs. Although he professed to prefer larger dogs, the littlest dogs of the house preferred him and would jump to his lap as soon as he sat in his recliner. Kevin was happiest at his family summer cottage on Youngs Lake in Big Rapids where he could fish, sit out in the sun listening to classic rock, spend time with his family, and enjoy the peace and beauty of God’s handiwork. He was particularly drawn to a pair of eagles this past summer who decided to make Youngs Lake their home. When Kevin saw them, he dropped his fishing pole, jumped in his boat, and sped across the lake just so he could capture their beauty with his camera. He loved classic rock and the blues but found that what really spoke to him was worship music. While his son, Ian, was living in Kalamazoo, Kevin found immense joy in worshipping with Lighthouse Community Church where Ian played drums, and Kevin was especially content when his wife and daughters were there beside him.

Throughout his hospital stay, Kevin exalted the Lord and felt the incredible power of God’s love and presence. He expressed an overwhelming and new appreciation for the preciousness of the life God gave him; he counted his blessings over and over, and he expressed deep gratitude for each one. Kevin wanted nothing more than to share his profound spiritual experiences before he passed, but he was rewarded instead with angels lifting him to his eternal home, comforted by the fact that we know he was never alone.

“Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:23.

The family will have a Celebration of Life Service in the spring. Memorial contributions may be given in Kevin’s honor to the Benton Heights Celebrate Recovery (send to: First Church of God, 2627 Niles Ave., St. Joseph, MI 49085. Write “Celebrate Recovery” on the memo line) or Hope Reformed Church, 1365 Monroe Blvd., South Haven, MI 49090 for their 150th Anniversary Fund or the Live Nativity Ministry (Please specify on the memo line).