Clair Everson, 94

Clair L. Everson, 94, of Hayden Lake, passed away Feb. 9, 2011, at his home. He was born July 7, 1916, in Whitetail, Mont., to Albert and Anna (Hansen) Everson.

Clair and his family moved to Coeur d'Alene in 1932 and he graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School in 1934. Clair worked during those high school years as a caddie for the Hayden Lake Country Club, a place he would become a member of in 1937 and remained a member the rest of his life.

When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Clair hitchhiked to Seattle to join the Navy. He served as a Chief Yeoman on the USS Missoula and was present when the American flag was raised at Iwo Jima. After the war, Clair returned to Coeur d'Alene and eventually built his home in Hayden Lake with the help of his father, Albert, a carpenter by trade. In 1954 Clair married Dorris Carmichael and they lived in the house he and Albert built until their deaths, Dorris passing away Dec. 13, 2009.

Clair served on the Hayden Lake City Council for 38 years, several of those as the Police Commissioner. Clair and his brother, Ken, operated Everson's Jewelry in downtown Coeur d'Alene since 1946. Clair, in fact, drove himself to work on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and enjoyed that time with his family working alongside him.

Clair was the last survivor of his brothers and sisters, Verna, Lola, Ken, Vance and Bobby. He is survived locally by his nephews, Ken Everson, Gary (Barbara) Everson and Bill (Gail) Everson as well as his great-nephews, Joe (Courtney) Everson, David (Lauren) Everson, Jim Everson, Tom Everson and Brent Everson.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, at Trinity Lutheran Church., Coeur d'Alene, with Yates Funeral Home in care of the arrangements. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery.

Please visit Clair's memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.