Carter Everage

Carter Everage, 93, of Milan passed away Thursday, March 12, 2015 at the Manderley Health Care Center in Osgood. He was born at Hindman in Knott County, Kentucky on July 13, 1921 the son of Aster and Polly Ann Morgan Everage and moved to a farm north of Versailles in 1937. He was married to Grace Waters on October 5, 1946 and his wife of 69 years survives. Other survivors include one son Jack (Robbie) Everage of Milan; three daughters Sandy Mills of The Villages, Florida, Sherry Kendall of Fruitland Park, Florida, and Joyce Bailey of Martinsville; 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandson; one sister Elaine Kemker of Milan; sister-in-law Reva Everage also of Milan. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers John Paul Everage, and R. C. Everage. Mr. Everage was a 1939 graduate of Versailles High School and received his BS degree in agriculture from Purdue University in 1943. He was an Army veteran of WWII serving from 1943 to 1946. He served as a first lieutenant in Field Artillery and also served two years in the European Theatre of Operations as an intelligence officer attached to his artillery unit. He taught agriculture at Purdue to military personnel from 1946 to 1953, worked as a salesman for Agrico for several years, and was a farmer. Carter was a 60 year member of the Versailles Baptist Church, and was also a member of the Versailles American Legion. He had formerly served on the South Ripley School Board, served on the building committees for the new South Ripley High School in 1966 and the new South Ripley Elementary School in 1991, was former chairman of the Ripley County Extension Committee, and served on the Board of Supervisors for the Ripley County ASCS district. Mr. Everage was also a 65 year member of the Versailles Lions Club with 55 years of perfect attendance. In the local club he served as president, secretary, zone chairman, Pumpkin Show president, and served as master of ceremonies for the Versailles Pumpkin Show for several years. Also with Lions International he served as District 25-F Governor in 1964 and 1965, Region 7 zone chairman, vice-district governor, Lions Club International Foundation, and was a past International Director, serving in 1973. Since going off the board he had remained active in district and international Lions affairs. His awards through the Lions included being named a Melvin Jones Fellow on four occasions, an award given by the Lions Club International Club Foundation for dedicated humanitarian services, received the Ambassador of Goodwill Award, nine presidential awards, international leadership award, Membership Key award for outstanding recruitment, and was one of the founders of Camp Woodsmoke. He also served as a multiple district leadership trainer and as the multi district promoter of the Lions-Quest program in Indiana. He spearheaded the effort to raise the necessary funds and obtain a state office building for the Lions of Indiana. He also helped found and served as the first president of the Lions of Indiana Trust Fund and the Lions of Indiana State Office Holding Corp. Carter was also named a Kentucky Colonel. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 20 at 10:30am at the Versailles Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Cantrell officiating. Burial will be in the Cliff Hill Cemetery at Versailles with military graveside rites by the Versailles American Legion. Visitation will be Thursday from 4pm to 8pm at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles and from 9:30am until time of services Friday at the church. Memorials may be given to the Versailles Baptist Church or the Versailles Lions Club in care of the funeral home.