Everett Eugene Brown, 87, died peacefully on May 23, 2021, at his Millington, Tenn., home, surrounded by family, after a long illness.

Born March 10, 1934, in Crab Orchard, Ky., to the late Herbert Lee and Rhoda Catherine Brown, Everett was eldest of the couple's five children. Born at home, he spent his childhood in Kentucky. He attended Livingston High School in Livingston, Ky.

On Dec. 11, 1952, Everett Brown joined the United States Navy where he spent the majority of his service aboard ship in the Mediterranean. During his tenure, he was also stationed in Hawaii and Japan, was named senior chief and served as a technical writer. After his many tours, he retired from the Navy on March 1, 1973, and attended and graduated from State Technical Institute of Memphis, Tenn. He then began civil service at the Millington Naval Air Station (NAS) in Millington, Tenn., where he served as a Naval Foreign Student liaison until his retirement in 1996, totaling 44 years of federal service. While at Millington NAS, he earned his bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University and master's degree from the University of Arkansas.

In 1957, Everett married Eula Elizabeth Arnold, and the couple had three sons, Arnold, Randall and Gerald. After losing her to cancer, Everett later met and married Rebecca Sue Eason Nichols on July 3, 1994, and the couple resided in Millington, Tenn. A longtime member of Millington First Baptist Church, Everett was strong in his faith, and attended Sunday school and worship services regularly as long as he was physically able.

Everett was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, his son Randall, and his brother Sidney. He is survived by his wife Rebecca Sue Brown of Millington, Tenn.; two sons Arnold (Lynn) of Havana, Fla., and Gerald of Nashville, Tenn.; siblings Amelia Furmon of Kentucky, Robert Brown (Georgie) of Indiana, and Audrey Furmon of Indiana; stepchildren Teresa Kuhl (Daniel) of St. Petersburg, Fla., Ronald Nichols (Stephanie) of Bartlett, Tenn., Marcia Noordermeer (Robert) of Memphis, Tenn.; and grandchildren Kyle Nichols, Conner Nichols, Seth Nichols, Ethan Nichols and Phoenix Noordermeer; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members.

Visitation will be held Thursday, May, 27, 2021 from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Northridge Woodhaven Cemetery and Funeral Home, 6755 TN-3N., Millington, Tenn., followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be immediately following at Big Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 6797 Big Creek Church Rd., Millington, Tenn.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Donations Processing, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 or online at www.michaeljfox.org/donate or Millington First Baptist Church, 5010 West Union Rd., Millington, TN 38053.