James Everett

James Albert Everett
Jim was born on the 20th of March 1928 in Alton, Illinois to Lucy Pearl (nee Eggen) and Jesse James Everett. Jim passed away at home on September 26, 2018 at the age of 90. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Ardis (nee Briggs), his daughter Dr. Lynne Everett of Savannah, Georgia, his sister Nadine Tubbs (David) of San Jose, California, his brother Dr. Michael Nielson (Claire) of Independence, Missouri, and his sister-in-law Beverly Tyree of Iowa City, Iowa. In addition to 3 grandsons, Jim leaves behind dear nieces and nephews and their beloved children. He will be greatly missed by many friends and neighbors in the US and abroad. He was preceded in death by his youngest daughter Susan Everett of Harbor Beach, MI in 2015. Jim earned an AA degree from Graceland College and a BS from BYU before serving eight years as a minister for the Community of Christ Church. His ministerial assignments included the Utah-Idaho-Colorado district and four years in Oslo, Norway.
He left ministry to pursue an M.A. degree from the University of Chicago in International Relations where he was recruited into the CIA. He subsequently spent almost 18 years in the CIA as a deep cover intelligence officer that included travel in more than thirty countries and residences in Stockholm, Sweden and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. His spy career ended as a result of the Watergate Scandal in which he became one of its many victims.
Jim then moved to Independence, MO where he became co-owner of the marketing, advertising and public relations agency of “Everett, Brandt, Bernauer & Associates” in Kansas City.
He was active in interfaith and peace movements, including 8 years as the volunteer executive director of the Kansas City Interfaith Peace Alliance. He was the founder of The Ethiopia Health Support Foundation that helped create the Saint Yared General Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia using equipment salvaged form the Independence Regional Hospital. He was the founder of Fayyaa International whose mission was to help fund schools in Ethiopia, and the Ark of the Covenant Foundation whose mission was to help fund a world-class museum in Axum, Ethiopia. His many honors include being chosen in 2000 as Kansas City’s “International Citizen of the Year” and in 2002 he was the recipient of the Muslim Crescent Peace Society’s prestigious Annual Peace Award. He served many years on the Board of Directors of the United Nations Association of the United States, Kansas City Chapter, and was a key person in the establishment and maintenance of the United Nations Peace Plaza in Independence, Missouri. In 2012. Ingram’s Magazine listed him as “One of the 50 Missourians You Should Know.” Jim’s articles have appeared over the years in many publications, including from 2006 to 2012 in a weekly opinion column, “On My Mind” in the Independence, Examiner. He was a longtime member of the Rotary Club and in his later years became very involved with the Independence Host Lions Club.
Jim’s passing held no personal fear, but with great regret in having to leave his family, his many friends, and so many tasks and desires still unfulfilled. A funeral service will be held Wednesday October 3rd at 10:00 am at Woods Chapel Congregation, Community of Christ, in Lee’s Summit, MO, 500 NE Woods Chapel Road. In lieu of flowers, a donation in his memory can be made to the Independence Host Lions Club, P.O. Box 49, Independence, MO 64050 Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com
(Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600)