Everett Lee Ward

Everett L. Ward 1933 - 2022

Longtime Cortez resident Everett Lee Ward passed away on May 2, 2022. He was 88 years old. Everett was born May 31, 1933 in Del Norte, CO to Edmund N. and Ethel M. (Link) Ward. He was the oldest of three brothers and the tenth generation of his ancestors who arrived in America at Salem, MA on July 29, 1629 onboard the Mayflower 2.

Everett graduated from high school in Saguache, CO in 1951 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After graduating from Aviation Electronics Specialist and Combat Aircrewman schools in 1952, he was assigned to a patrol squadron at Whidbey Island, Washington Naval Air Station. For three years he served in Alaska, Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, and the Philippine Islands. He was discharged in May, 1955 and accepted employment with Braniff Airlines in Denver, CO as an operations specialist.

In February, 1956 Everett was married to LaVon Shawcroft in Lajara, CO. To this union were born three daughters; Lenise, LeeAnn, and Laraine. The marriage ended in 1984.

In 1957 Everett graduated from the FAA Air Traffic Control Academy in Oklahoma City, OK and was assigned to the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center. In 1970 he transferred to the control center in Salt Lake City as an assistant chief and retired there in 1986. That fall he was employed by the University of Oklahoma and taught air traffic control for four years.

In 1985 Everett was married to Wilma (Swinehart) Hersch of Cortez. They had been classmates in grade school in Creede, CO. They made their home in Cortez, CO since returning from Oklahoma in 1990.

Everett was an avid golfer for 60 plus years and was heavily involved with genealogy for 40 years. He researched all branches of his family and published six books on their lives in England, Germany, and America.

Surviving Everett are his loving wife, Wilma; his daughters, Lenise Herman (Ron) of American Fork, UT, LeeAnn Bennion (Wayne) of Salt Lake City, UT, Laraine Lawes (Jonathan) of South Jordon, UT; his step-sons, Troy Hersch (Lisa) of Waukomis, OK, and Trenton Hersch of Stavanger, Norway; 16 grandchildren; and 16 great grandchildren. He was a member of the American Legion and the Cortez Elks Lodge.

Everett chose cremation. A private family memorial service will be held at the Cortez Cemetery at a later date.