Everett Gerard

BANGOR - Everett J. Gerard died December 27, 2019 surrounded by family and caregivers. He was born February 25th, 1926 in Madawaska, one of seven children born to Alfred and Emily Gerard.

Upon graduation from Madawaska High School in 1944, Everett was inducted into the United States Army and trained as a belly gunner in B-24 bombers receiving his gunner wings at Harlingen Airfield, Texas.

Upon returning home in 1946, he married the love of his life, the beautiful Miss Vera Labbe of Fort Kent and embarked on a career with the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, working as a telegrapher and station agent for 42 years, retiring in 1988. He was very proud to have been a part of the B&A family. All during his career he held other jobs to support his family of seven children, working as a projectionist for the Van Buren Gateway Theater and Drive-In, operating a hot dog stand and running Martin Office Supply from the basement of his home on Center Street in Van Buren.

His love of the B&A Railroad was only surpassed by his love for his five daughters and two sons, raised in the St. John Valley tradition of honesty and hard work, and seeing them move on and start families of their own.

Throughout all of life challenges he was a devoted man of faith and family. He is survived by his wife, Vera of 73 years, his sons, Dan Gerard and wife, Mary of Fresh Meadows, NY; Philip Gerard and wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Reese and Jett, of San Antonio, TX; daughters, Linda and husband Sebouh DerSimonian of Waterville, and children, Hasmig, Kohar, Raffi, and Vahan; daughter, Karen Gerard and daughters, Amanda and Alyssa of Jupiter, FL, daughter, Mary Betts and son, Dillan of Big Pine Key, FL; daughter, Gail and husband, Harvey Pelovsky of Payson, AZ; daughter, Denise and husband, Bob Reisner of Skowhegan, and their 3 children, Adam, Aaron and Ashley; and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Herb and Fred “June” of Tampa, FL and predeceased by brother Gilman (Pete) of CT, brother Jim, of Sun City FL, and two sisters, Etheleen “Lynn” and Annette of St. Augustine, FL.

Private interment will be in Maine Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Augusta. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com

We will miss his humor, his smile, and the twinkle in his eye, but most of all we will miss you our Dear Sweet Father and Papa. May you rest in peace…till we meet again.