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Phil grew up in Galesburg, Illinois, attending Galesburg High School where he was an excellent student and standout on the baseball, basketball and golf teams. Upon graduation he attended the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., and was a member of the Fighting Irish Varsity Golf team.
After graduating with honors from Notre Dame in 1952 Phil entered the U.S. Navy Officer Training School and became a Naval Aviator. He served the U.S. Navy for 11 years flying many planes including the first carrier based supersonic fighter the Grumman F1 F11 Tiger. Phil was also an instructor at the Naval Fleet Air Gunnery School which would later become Top Gun.
While in the Navy he met and married Virginia L. Scanlan of Algona, Iowa. They were married 57 years and had four children: Shannan, Jeff, Paula and Kirk. After his Naval career Phil went to work in the steel business where he was a sales representative, manager and executive for over 34 years, working for Kaiser Steel and Oregon Steel.
Phil was an avid golfer and could regularly be found walking the course at Orinda and Moraga Country Clubs. He loved to read and found great joy in watching his children's activities. He was a regular at the many pools, courts and fields they competed on.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Rose Everist; and his wife, Ginny. He is survived by his sister MaryAnn Barkach, of Farmington Hills, MI; children Shannan (Chris) Edwards of Pleasanton, CA, Jeff (Tracy) Everist of Houston, TX, Paula Everist of San Diego, and Kirk Everist of Alamo; grandchildren Marissa, Sabina, and Cameron Rocke, Adam, Mason, Troy and Drake Everist, Stacy (Sydney) and Brandon Terry, and Keira Everist; and great-grandchildren Arthur and Jameson Terry.
A memorial service was held in his honor at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept.1 at Santa Maria Church in Orinda, and was followed at the parish by a celebration of his life.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Vitas Hospice Healthcare, 355 Lennon Ln., Suite 150, Walnut Creek CA. 94598.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA