Robert Jack Everett

Jack Everett, a Lakeland native, has died at the age of 84. It was not a plane crash that caused his death, although he had a few near misses with those as well. Jack wore many hats: family man, patriot, Christian, marine, contractor, developer, and entrepreneur. But even with all of his talents… he was a terrible house painter and cook.

Jack was born August 18, 1939 to John Robert Everett and Mary Frances Everett. He spent the first several years of his life traveling with his family for his father’s work before ultimately settling in Lakeland where Jack attended Lakeland High School. At LHS, he played football (well), ran track (slowly), and was on the homecoming court. He earned a scholarship to Coffeyville Community College, eventually matriculating to Arkansas State University. While at Arkansas State, Jack met his life-long co-conspirator and partner Sandra “Sandy” Sue Sharp.

Jack and Sandy first met on a double date… with other people. When he later started courting her, she proceeded to turn him down. Repeatedly. Not one to be dissuaded by hard work, he took up residence in the university library where he routinely bought her a Coke after class and eventually convinced her to go on a date. Jack went all out on their first date, borrowing a pair of horses from a friend and planning a trail ride and picnic, only to nearly get Sandy thrown off of her horse. A few years later, she knocked him out of a sailboat on Chesapeake Bay (an accident, she swears). Years after that, she fell in love with a three-story house on South Blvd that was going to be torn down for a church parking lot, so he moved the house across town for her. It should come as no surprise that this all culminated in a marriage of over 60 years.

While at Arkansas State, Jack took a deferred enlistment with the Marine Corps. He was later commissioned on live television, where Sandy pinned his bars on one lapel and Jane Russel on the other. Among his first assignments in the Marines was a position as Guard on the Marine Corps Football Team, where, during a particularly spirited practice, Jack got in a fistfight with a teammate, Ken Norton. After learning a few lessons from Jack, Ken transitioned to boxing, where he would later beat Muhammed Ali for the world heavyweight championship title. Jack would serve a total of 3.5 years on active duty with deployments to Cuba and Panama before transitioning to the reserves for an additional 24 years. He ultimately served as a Colonel and 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion Commander.

Jack was an adventure enthusiast with a penchant for adrenaline. He became a private pilot, an amateur boat captain, took annual trips whitewater rafting, and annual weeks-long trips island hopping in the Bahamas (complete with real-life pirates on at least one occasion). During one escapade, Jack and a friend flew a Cessna 170 out to the Chandelier Islands 50 miles off the coast of Mississippi. After fishing for a while, his friend started doing touch-and-gos on the beach, eventually catching in soft sand and putting the plane down on its prop. Jack was left with a bent propeller and no radio reception to the mainland. Even well-armed with bait, self-reliance, and resourcefulness… It was a hairy situation. A lucky driftwood 2x6 and some jury rigging later, and they managed to leverage the propeller back into something that resembled airworthiness–crisis averted. Adventures and misadventures alike, Jack always came out of the other side with a good story and new or deepened friendships.

His love of family, friendship and adventure was second only to his commitment to faith and service to his community. Jack was a church leader, core member of the church men's group, active member of the Rotary Club, and a board member for New Life Dwelling Place. He lived what he believed; selling, delivering (and upon special request, setting up) Christmas trees in an annual church fundraiser, forgoing rent collection for a pair of down-on-their luck college students and instead giving them fuel, milk, and cookies (his favorite food group).

Jack is survived by his wife Sandy, daughter Andrea Goodson and husband Minter, son Jim and wife Ann, grandchildren Evan Goodson, Emily Everett, and Sarah Goodson, and sister Linda Bailey.

Jack’s memorial will be held at 2pm Thursday, February 29th, 2024 at United Methodist Temple 2700 South Florida Ave, Lakeland FL 33803.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.