Everett L. Runyon

Everett Lloyd Runyon, born October 10, l929 in Eaton, Ohio was the first child of Stanley Everett Runyon and Treva Irene Geeting Runyon. He attended Eaton Elementary School and graduated from Eaton High School. He spent his early years exploring the land and fields and building relationships with the many animals, both tame and wild that he came to love. His parents encouraged him and his sister to create programs for Sunday night entertainment. This was the pre- television era, and there were no game shows and limited musical shows, so it was up to them to make them entertaining. Nancy sang and played the piano and included the parents on sing-alongs. Everett showed his interest in nature by creating large display boards of the varied plants that grew in the area including a mini lecture on their value to the ecosystem. He and his father raised many acres of burley tobacco from setting each plant in the soil to the final stages of topping, cutting down and putting on laths to hang in the barn and cure, then steaming and pressing. It was a very interesting crop involving many processes and back breaking work.They soon began growing less and less tobacco. In the early 50s, they built a small gas station on the front part of their land by the road. His mother an artist designed and executed an enameled mural depicting in caricature all the styles of vehicles and jalopies that patronized the station. Customers got a great kick out of the cartoon like images in the mural. Later his father bought a Ford Farm Implement business and Everett got a job at the Parker Hannifin Corporation in Eaton. He took vacation time traveling across the country to steam shows, zoos, fairs, parades, farm equipment shows and other events involving farm life. He filmed all his travels on a large video recorder, building a huge library of movies. In the most recent years, he became involved with the Eaton Senior Center, where he ate lunch every weekday and developed many friendships. These people became Everett's new family, providing a social life he had never really had. A private funeral for the family only will be held at the Girton- Schmidt Boucher Gard Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to donate is encouraged to give to the animal rescue or protection organization of their choice. He is survived by his only sibling, Nancy Runyon Yost; one niece, Debra Yost Collins; two great nieces, Kira Mews Brunton and Natalia Mews Burke; and five great-great nieces and nephews; and cousins June and Ralph Maggard. A memorial service for Everett will be given by his sister, Nancy Runyon Yost at the Senior Center during lunch on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. Members of the public are welcome.