John Everatt

Obituary

John Edward Everatt passed away, on October 21, 2021, at 75 years of age, after a brave battle with cancer, in Calgary, Alberta.

John was born in Toronto, Ontario, to parents Elizabeth and William, and younger brother Terry. The family moved to the United States in John’s infancy, and he spent his childhood growing up on Rhode Island. He attended Northland College in Wisconsin, where he and three other students started a Folk Music Festival, which is enjoying its 54th anniversary this year.

He was a very adept musician, and played the guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and accordion. As a song writer and vocalist John would fill a room with joy. John’s deep passion for music and in-particular folk and bluegrass music, led him to street singing across Europe in the early 1970’s with his former wife Susan, where they formed The String Band.

This time period for John was very special, and he shared many cherished memories of it with friends and family. John then moved and started a family in Mable Lake, B.C., where he worked as a carpenter/cabinet maker with his company J. Everatt Cabinets, while also continuing to play music, and most notably with the band Shakewood Annie. With a very intuitive view of the future, John started to get involved with the internet in 1992 and worked as a software developer. This occupation brought him to Barbados in 1999.

John loved Barbados, and he lived there for 20 years. He was attracted to the warm weather, the Caribbean Sea and the chatter of a rum shop. He also enjoyed cricket matches at Kensington Oval, horse races at the Garrison, strolling on Haynes Boardwalk and the sunset on Carlisle Bay and Brownes Beach. He married Margaret in 2013, whom he loved deeply, and he became a Barbadian citizen in 2015. John moved back to Canada in 2018. John will be greatly missed by friends and family, across the Caribbean, Canada, United States and Europe. Two tributes that perfectly sum up john, written by close friends of John’s are below:

People who master a subject in their lives tend to be the most humble. John was the most humble musician I have ever known. Music was as natural as breathing to John and he made it look effortless. What was not seen was the deep dedication and commitment to his craft. That kind of dedication that created the master that he was. That same commitment carried on to the rest of John’s life be it work, his friends and especially his family. John taught us about music and about how to live a good life. He will be very missed here on earth. Heaven will be more musical with his presence.

Eric Eder– Canada

John was a polymath without formality. He was curious about the world and the people around him, which made him a natural friend to many people from many backgrounds. He was at home at universities and construction sites in offices and rum shops, and especially where he could make music.

Dr. Michael Campbell – Barbados

The family would like to thank the staff at the Dulcina Hospice, for their excellent care of John while he was staying there. John leaves behind immediate family with wife Margaret, brother Terry, daughter Lindsay (husband Mike), son Jesse (wife Avril) and two grandchildren-Vanessa and Austin. Also very close friends: Eric, Dr. Mike, Shafiq, Austin and Peter.