James LeRoy Everett, age 81, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2018, surrounded by family and friends.
Jim was born in 1936 at Everetts Corner in Hartly, DE, to the late Edith C. and Roy D. Everett. He graduated from John Basset Moore High School, Smyrna, DE, in 1954, and joined the U.S. Air Force in January, 1955, for 4 years of active service and 4 years in the inactive reserve. His tour of duty included 12 months in Morocco. Jim graduated with a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Delaware in 1963. He was a life member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Jim was employed by the local Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company in Wilmington as Treasurer & General Manager from 1964 to 1986. He purchased the Restaurant Equipment Sales (RES) company in 1986. Jim was very proud of the success he had with building the business and many business relationships over the 14+ years that he owned and operated RES. He was one of the founding members of PRIDE, a buying group established for the restaurant equipment industry, and he served as President of PRIDE for two years.
Jim was devoted to his loving wife Gail Everett, whom he married in 1991. He was a good friend and mentor to many.
He was an avid tennis player throughout his adult life, and he especially enjoyed playing in the local USTA leagues and with friends at Greenville Country Club. He was captain of countless teams over the years. He also enjoyed competing in singles tournaments in the USTA Middle States Section. He achieved rankings in the 70’s age group as high as 2nd in Delaware and 7th in Middle States. Jim attended the US Open every year for over 50 years, and he achieved his personal “Grand Slam” by going to all four major tennis tournaments – the US Open, the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon.
Jim was predeceased by his brothers Donald Everett of New Castle and Thomas Howard Everett of Smyrna, and by his sister Betty Shannon of Wilmington. He is survived by his wife Gail Everett; his son and daughter-in-law Scott and Bridget Bragg Everett; his daughter and son-in-law Debra and Paul Personti; his grandson Corbin Personti; his brother Allen Everett of Clayton and his sisters Louise Berry of Wyoming (DE), Peggy Snow of Smyrna, and Shirley Steele of Dover, and their families; and the families of the brothers and sister who predeceased him.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service to celebrate Jim’s life at Westminster Presbyterian Church located at 1502 W. 13th Street, Wilmington, on Thursday, May 3, at 11:00 am. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Jim’s memory to UD Tennis Program Gift Processing; 83 E. Main Street, 3rd Floor, Newark, DE 19716.
For online condolences please visit chandlerfuneralhome.com
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