Everett Rhoad
1937-2024
King City, MO: Miles Everett Rhoad, 86, passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at the University of Kansas Medical Center due to complications from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).
Known by everyone as Everett, he was born October 10, 1937, to Edgar Clark “Bud” and Laura Pearl (Price) Rhoad at their home in DeKalb County. He attended King City High School where he met his future wife Ruthann Rainey and graduated in 1955.
Everett and Ruthann were married on November 30, 1957, at the home of Ruthann’s parents’ east of King City with family and friends attending. During the first two years of marriage, they made their home in St Joseph where both were employed, before returning to King City where they remained.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruthann; their three children, Kimberly Ann (Larry) Gonzalez, Platte City, Scott Eric (Emily) Rhoad, Higginsville, and Jill Diane (Chris) Rhoad-Cook, Smithville, five grandchildren, Hannah (Kevin) Sartin, Knob Noster, Elijah Rhoad, St. Louis, Rebekah Rhoad, Boise, Idaho, Michaela and Jackson Rhoad-Cook, Smithville, and four great-grandchildren, Noah, Sarah, Isaac and Isaiah Sartin, Knob Noster.
Everett is also survived by four sisters: Mary Lou (Bob) Riney, Aurora, IL, Joyce English, St. Joseph, Linda (Jim) Mason, Maysville, and Laura (Steve) Gerdes Elwood, KS and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws, five brothers, Roy Gene, Earl Dean, Gisty Lee, Clarence Edgar, Warren Dee, two infant sisters, Ellen Louise and Betty Jo, and twin infant grandchildren Theresa Mariah and Fredrick Malachi Rhoad in 1993.
Everett was a Christian man and a longtime member of the Hammer Memorial United Methodist Church serving on various committees over the years including church board President.
Everett was a carpenter. He started his own construction company in the mid-1960s and built pole barns for many years before retiring in 2002. You could often find him puttering around in his shop working on various things. He also farmed and raised cattle for many years.
He fulfilled many thankless jobs in the King City community by serving on the school board, New Haven Apartments board, and the King City Cemetery board where he most recently served as President. He also served two terms as Mayor.
When the first wind farm came to the area, he became fascinated with the process of erecting a windmill and spent a lot of time watching and learning about them, making many friends along the way. He felt that there needed to be a place to view the windmills and to learn about alternative energies, so he and Lois Reynolds went to work to create what is now known as the Tri-County Alternative Energy Education & Visitor Center.
In keeping with his giving spirit, he was an organ donor including his pacemaker.
Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 15 at the Hammer Memorial United Methodist Church, King City, MO under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, King City, MO. Burial will follow in King City Cemetery, King City, MO. The family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Sunday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Everett Rhoad Memorial Fund to be designated later in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 153, King City, MO 64463. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com
