Garth D. Everett, 69, of Pennsdale, died on Saturday January 28, 2023 at The Gatehouse in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Garth battled cancer valiantly for 18 years and succumbed quite quickly last month.
He was born on January 28, 1954 in Williamsport to the late David and Maxine Schrader Everett. He and his wife, the former Susan S. Shultz, will celebrate 46 years of marriage on November 27, 2022.
Garth was born and raised in Montoursville, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Montoursville Area High School in 1972, where he met his best friend and future wife, Sue Shultz. Garth received an Air Force ROTC scholarship to attend Colby College in Maine. After two years, the ROTC unit was closed, after which he transferred to Penn State University. On Thanksgiving weekend in 1976, Garth graduated from Penn State, was drafted into the United States Air Force, and married his high school sweetheart, Sue.
Garth and Sue left Pennsylvania for their first duty station in Biloxi, Mississippi. Their first daughter Megan was born at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma in 1978 and their second daughter Corinne was born at Lubbock AFB in Texas in 1981. Garth became a KC-135 navigator and served in several other roles throughout his career. From Davis, California to Macon, Georgia to Plattsburgh, New York to Omaha, Nebraska and everywhere in between, the Everett family loved their time in the military, where friends truly became family.
Throughout his military career, his heart always remained in north-central Pennsylvania, where the family returned every summer and vacation to spend time with his beloved parents and at his family cabin on Loyalsock Creek. After retiring from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel, Garth returned to Pennsylvania where he began his law studies at Dickinson College in Carlisle. Garth was affectionately called “the colonel” by his classmates and was chosen to speak at the graduation ceremony in 2000, where he sat on stage with former Gov. Tom Ridge and Joe Paterno.
After graduation, Garth and Sue returned to the Williamsport area and chose to live in Muncy. Garth practiced civil and local law and has practiced law for several municipalities, counties, school districts and local governments. While in the Air Force he became an avid runner and later joined the local Oregon East Running Club with many longtime friends and met many more who became lifelong friends.
In 2006, Garth ran for state representative for the 84th District after his high school classmate decided not to run for re-election. Garth served in the PA House of Representatives from 2007 to 2020. He loved his time representing the state and representing the people of the 84th District. After retiring, Garth was able to spend even more time with his family and friends, his grandchildren, outside at the cabin and on trips. Garth was a super active “porridge” He took his grandson to guitar and singing lessons and coached his granddaughter’s soccer teams. He and Sue often traveled internationally and loved traveling domestically in their Sprinter van.
In addition to his wife, two daughters survive, Corinne (Matthew) McLaughlin of Muncy and Megan Everett of Chicago, Illinois.; two grandchildren, Riley McLaughlin and Nolan McLaughlin; one brother, Christopher (Deborah) Everett of Canton, Georgia; and two nieces, Jennifer Everett and Sarah Everett.
A celebration of life is held privately at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Susquehanna Health Foundation c/o The Gatehouse, 1001 Grampian Blvd., Williamsport, PA 17701.
The arrangements were entrusted to the McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, Montoursville.
Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the family at mccartythomas.com.