Everett Lee Bullock, age 84, passed away on May 4, 2024 in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Everett was born in the woods northwest of West Salem Church, Mt. Vernon, Illinois on the 17th of September, 1939, to Margaret Hazel Pace Bullock and Arthur George Benjamin Franklin Bullock. He was the fourth child, a brother to James Downing, Arthur Max, and Margie Elaine Bullock.

He was a member of the sixth generation of Bullocks living in Jefferson County, a descendant of Samuel Bullock, who moved to Jefferson County in 1828.

On November 29, 1958, he married Dorothy Ann Roane, and they were blessed with a loving relationship and two children, Brian Patrick, of Chicago, and Marnie Lynn, of Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Everett is survived by his wife, Ann, his son Brian (Linda Michaels), his daughter Marnie (Nath Dresser). He is also survived by two grandchildren, Jet Sullivan (Shawn Sullivan) and Wendell Dresser; and three great-grandchildren, Parker, Marlow, and Grae.

His extended family was important to him.

He is also survived by sisters-in-law Gail (Doug) Farnham, Rebecca Roane, and Toni (Bill) Hutchison.

He had a close relationship with niece Jodie Stover and nephew Rob (Krista) Payne, and celebrated each grand-niece and grand-nephew as they came along: Cody, Emma, Clay, Reece, and Gracie.

He was a big fan of Josh and Jamie Stoik.

On the Bullock side, he loved nephews and nieces Michael, Debbie, Julie, Jill, and Joel. He would have loved to get to know all his great- and great-great nieces and nephews.

Everett was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, special brothers-in-law Earle Hosick and Ferrell Payne, and in-laws Ellis and Dorothy Roane, to whom he was very close.

In June of 1958, Everett joined the United States Army, starting an association which spanned over 30 years. He served as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the active Army for 11 years, during which he served six years in Germany and one year in Vietnam. He then served with the Mt. Vernon unit of the Illinois National Guard for 12 years, and later worked as a civilian Management Analyst for the United States Army Aviation Troop Command (ATCOM) in St. Louis for 11 years. During his Army career, he earned many awards, including the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and the Civilian Army Achievement Medal.

Everett also spent thirteen years working with the disadvantaged and unemployed personnel in Southern Illinois, assisting them in obtaining employment and training while working with the Illinois State Employment Service and a private training contractor.

After retirement, Everett worked part-time for a lifelong friend, the C.E. Brehm Memorial Library, and served as a board member and volunteer for Angels on Assignment, Anderson Smith Cemetery, and Crosswalk Community Action Agency.

After moving to Wisconsin in retirement, he also worked in the Spring Green Community Library and served on the Board of the Spring Green Literary Festival.

Everett was educated in several Jefferson County schools and Mt. Vernon city schools, including West Salem, Franklin, Lincoln, Horace Mann, and Field. He graduated from elementary school in Opdyke and high school at Mt. Vernon Township High School.

After leaving active military service, he utilized the Veterans educational benefits to attend night classes, and graduated from Rend Lake College in 1974. In 1976, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and in 1987 attained a Master in Public Affairs, also at SIU-C.

Everett acknowledged in writing “it is hard to think about, summing up your life,” but he tried:

“I have never forgotten where I came from, and it was a hard place. I hope that I have helped others as I was helped. I have loved music of all kinds all of my life, and I have loved those who brought music to us. I have tried to write some things that I thought worth the effort. I consider myself blessed by God with a good and loving wife and children. When my life is evaluated by those on earth, I hope some things are taken into account that may not be easily measured-the number of soldiers I cared for, the number of people I helped find jobs, the number of poor people I helped to get into training programs, the number of poor people I helped to feed, the number of afflicted people that I have comforted, the number of doors to knowledge that I have opened for others, the laughs and tears shared with friends and family. It might also be worth mentioning the number of fights I lost (literally and figuratively) with those who bullied others or tried to take advantage of others. I hope I am still fighting for the underdogs in this world when I pass.”

A Visitation will be held Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Service will begin at 4:00 pm with Dr. Ryan Burge officiating. Interment will follow at Anderson Smith Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

If you would like to make a charitable contribution in memory of Everett, please consider donating to your local public library or food bank, or to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org .

There will be a celebration of life in Spring Green at a later date.

Source:Posted by Betty Sink on Jefferson County Genealogy Facebook group