Kenneth Alvie Evett, 79, of Benton Harbor and Arizona City, AZ, passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville. A memorial service has been held at Duffield Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma.
Kenneth was born to Clinton Amos and Tennie Elizabeth Evett on June 5, 1944, in Little Prairie Township, Pemiscot County, MO. He spent his early years in Hayti and Braggadocio, MO and began his education at Braggadocio Elementary School. When he was 8 years old, the Evett family moved north and settled in Coloma. Kenneth graduated from Coloma High School as a member of the Class of 1962. He thoroughly loved being a member of the Comet varsity baseball team, of which he was named co-captain his senior year. That love of baseball lasted a lifetime; he enjoyed watching – or bemoaning, depending on the year – the Chicago Cubs and having a light-hearted rivalry with his cousin Gail and her beloved St. Louis Cardinals.
Kenneth was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1965 and completed basic training at Fort Knox in Kentucky and advanced training at Fort Gordon, GA as a member of the Company G Training Battalion. Following his training, he was stationed in Toul, France and Verdun, France as a Military Police Officer.
Kenneth and Candy were united in marriage on May 11, 1968, at Evangelical United Brethren Church in Buchanan. They became proud parents of daughter Kristin in 1974 and son Ryan in 1977.
In 1964, Ken was hired by Whirlpool Corporation in the manufacturing division. He became a supervisor and then administrator of safety and workers’ compensation at Plant 7. During his time at Whirlpool, he made many friends, was a member of the Rolling Stoned bowling team and Splicers Slicers golf team, and enjoyed delivering Thanksgiving turkeys to retirees. He officially retired in 1998 but continued with Whirlpool as a contract employee for three more years.
Following retirement, he and Candy became “snowbirds,” traveling to Arizona City to spend their winters in their house built along the fairway of hole #4 at Arizona City Golf Course.
Ken enjoyed numerous road trips to Missouri and Arizona, singing along to Don Williams and Charley Pride. He also enjoyed analyzing the stock market ticker on the bottom of the television screen, watching golf tournaments, and attending the annual Evett Christmas parties where he was often the “banker” of the 50/50 raffle. Above all, he loved his family.
Ken is survived by his wife of 55 years, Candace, of Benton Harbor; daughter Kristin (Michael) Noack, of Benton Harbor; son Ryan, of Mineral, VA; grandchildren Nolan Evett, Lauren Brautigam, Taylor Noack, and Dale Noack; and great-grandchildren Jaxon and Adilynn Brautigam; brothers Glynn (Thelma) Evett, Gary (Sue) Evett, Randy Evett, and John Dale Evett; sisters Charlotte Berchin and Cindy (Kevin) Haney; and cousins Gail (Roy) Hejduk, Doyle (Barb) Evett, Rhonda Fellows, and Larry (Sue) Ledbetter. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton and Tennie; brothers Harold and Donald; nephew Clint; and niece Tina.
Ken will be mourned by those who cared about him, missed by those that knew him, and loved by all.
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