Everett M. Rankin, 84

Everett M. Rankin, 84, “left this world” and those of us who adored him on Sept. 26, 2011. He died at his home in Ferndale after a year-long battle with malignant melanoma. He was the director of his entire life until the end “and is now in the loving hands of his Maker and, thankfully, at peace.”

 Everett was born in Corinna, Maine, on June 27, 1927, to Myrtice Bell and Everett Rankin Sr. At age 5, his stepfather, Raynor I. Crosman, and stepbrother, Richard, came into his life. From a very young age, Everett was called “Popeye.” He attended Corinna Union Academy and graduated in 1945.

 Popeye was an excellent baseball player and played for Corinna Union Academy. Major league teams, particularly the Brooklyn Dodgers, were scouting him and he attended spring training camps, but was called to the Navy. He continued to play baseball on the Navy's Receiving Station team.

After his discharge from the Navy, Popeye returned to Corinna and worked in the town woolen mill. His first marriage was to Claudine Eaton, Dec. 25, 1947, and they had three beautiful children, Dianne, Donald and Paula. The marriage ended, and shortly thereafter Popeye moved to St. Petersburg, Fla., to live with his aunt, Florence Hanscom, and began his career as a car salesman.

Everett moved farther south to sunny Miami. Here he met a lovely Georgia peach named Sally Hill and they were married April 25, 1958. They would share 38 years together.

After their marriage, Everett and Sal lived in Coral Gables, Fla., along with Sal's mother, Anna, whom Everett adored. On March 27, 1962, their daughter, Kelly, was born. In 1968 they moved to Perrine, Fla., and eventually began to spend their weekends down in the Florida Keys.

 Everett spent 30 years selling cars. He had a great career as a salesman because people loved him. He was smart, savvy and likable. He sold cars for the following Miami dealerships — Luby Chevrolet, Nolan Brown Cadillac, Norman Braman Cadillac, George Williamson Cadillac and Bill Ussery Motors-Mercedes Benz, in Coral Gables.

 Everett, aka Rankin, was an avid outdoorsman and loved what south Florida had to offer. He loved sport-fishing and during the late ‘50s and ‘60s he and Sal spent their weekends and free time fishing and boating off of Key Biscayne. In the late 1960s Rankin discovered the Florida Keys. In 1972 he and Sal bought a beautiful waterfront location that overlooked the Florida Bay off of Tavernier, Fla. From this locale, Rankin fished, caught lobster and explored the backcountry waters from the Florida Keys to Everglades City, Lost Man's River and Chokoloskee, Fla. 

 Rankin had some wild adventures in the Florida Everglades. He hunted deer, gigged frogs, and spent years exploring from aboard his various airboats, swamp buggies and half track machines. He also enjoyed the times spent at his hunting camp in the Big Cypress Preserve area during the ‘70s.

 In addition to selling cars during the work week, Rankin spent his weekends fishing from his favorite boat, the Sally-R. This evolved into more commercial endeavors, and once retired from the car business, he was able to pursue his second career as a full-time commercial fisherman. He owned and managed several boats from Tavernier Key to Key West, until their move to Montana in 1995.

 As much as they loved the Keys, Rankin and Sal wanted to be closer to their beloved daughter, Kelly, a veterinarian in Kalispell. In addition, in 1992, Hurricane Andrew roared through and destroyed their home in Perrine. So in 1995 they began spending summers in Montana and bought a cute home in the woods in Ferndale. Everett's beloved wife and best friend, Sal died March 2, 1998. 

 Rankin then took up RV traveling and began playing poker. He spent winters in his fifth wheel trailer with his beloved dog and faithful companion to the end, Babe. In 1999 Rankin fulfilled his dream to see Alaska when he and son Donnie drove up and bought a gold claim near Central, Alaska. This led to subsequent trips to Alaska and his annual summer ritual of catching reds on the Kenai and halibut out of Homer. We thank Dad for all the delicious salmon that he canned.

Rankin was a very skilled poker player because he took it seriously, feeling like it was his job. He loved poker, had loads of fun, and met many good friends while playing down south and in Kalispell.

Everett loved animals and felt they enriched his life, having many special dogs, several cats and even a Capuchin monkey and mynah bird. He thoroughly enjoyed watching the deer travel by his front windows throughout the day in Ferndale.

Rankin was the kind of guy people wanted to be with. He was very bright, wise, mechanically inclined, fiercely independent, and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was extremely loving and remained young at heart. He will be forever close because of the massive love for him that will always remain in our hearts.

He was preceded in death by mother, Myrtice Bell Crosman; stepfather, R.I. Crosman, father, Everett; stepbrother, Richard Crosman; wife, Sally H. Rankin; and sister in-law, Graciela Hill.

 He leaves behind his children, daughters Kelly Rankin and husband Al Otto of Kalispell, Dianne Braun and husband William of Brewer, Maine, and Paula Bishop and husband Stephen of Veazie, Maine; son, Donald Rankin, and wife, Margie, of Corinna, Maine; grandchildren, Craig Dyer, Corey Ferguson and wife Amanda, Kyle Bishop, Kurt Bishop and wife Shannon, and Jeremy and Josh Rankin; great-grandchildren, Kaylah Dyer and Liam Ferguson; his brother-in-law, Homer H. Hill; nieces, Rosemary Hill-Erdman and husband Joseph Erdman, Nanette Dedering, and Nancy MacDonald and husband Bob; and cousins-in-law, Edward Swan and wife Jean, and his children, Kathy Swan-Fitch, Patrick, Michael, Maureen, Timothy and Sharon Swan.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service and celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Everett's memory to: Mayo Clinic-Melanoma Cancer Research Program, 13400 East Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85259.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Everett’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Everett’s guest book, offer condolences and share memories.