Everett Lee Garwood was born in O'Neill, Nebraska, and grew up on a ranch in the sand hills. From the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, he received a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Education in January 1969. He taught Vocational Ag. at Tri-County High School in DeWitt Nebraska, until 1971. He met Bonnie Larson at that time, who was teaching Home Economics. While men walked on the moon in 1969, Everett proposed to Bonnie and they married on June 7, 1970, at Westmark Church near Loomis Nebraska.

After returning to the Garwood ranch, Everett became increasingly involved in teaching and evangelism at his home church, Immanuel Lutheran, of Atkinson, Nebraska. In 1975 he responded to the Holy Spirit calling him into full-time church work. He entered Concordia Theological Seminary, in Springfield, Illinois and Ft. Wayne. In 1978 he began employment with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Board for Missions, as missionary to the Philippines. After his year of vicarage in the Lutheran Church in the Philippines, he graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree in 1979 and was ordained February 17 of 1980 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Candon, Ilocos Sur, the Philippines.

Rev. Ev, as he came to be known, planted Saint Paul, Christ the King, and Saint Luke Lutheran Churches, in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, and Faith Lutheran and St.  Mark of Sinait, Ilocus Sur. In 1988 the Lutheran Church in the Philippines called Everett to serve as a professor at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Baguio city. He taught multiple classes, wrote curriculum and was the director of field education. He also organized and directed a seminary choir which traveled to many other Lutheran churches in the Philippines.

Ev and the family moved to Manila in 1992 after being called to International Lutheran Church in Makati. He also served as the board chair for Concordia Children's Services, an orphanage and ministry to the street children of Manila.

The Garwoods returned to the United States in September 1995 and Everett served at Saint Paul Lutheran Church Omaha from 1996 until 2001. Ev and Bonnie moved to Dayton, NV to work with the church plant at River of Life.  Pastor Garwood began serving at Faith Lutheran in Yerington in 2007.  Since 2009, Ev and Bonnie would also drive to Hawthorne once a month to serve at Bethany Lutheran Church.

Those who labored with Everett in the church knew him for many things, but namely his love to worship the Triune God, to make disciples of the nations, and to evangelize the lost. He had a true under-shepherd's heart because he knew the Chief Shepherd and Overseer of his soul, Jesus Christ.  His final email included these words, "Be assured that I know whose I am, where I'm going and how to get there.  Jesus paid my ticket in full for my homecoming."

Everett leaves behind his faithful wife of 50 years, Bonnie.  They have five married children and 18 grandchildren.  Rev. Burt Garwood and his wife, Michele, and their two children, Elias and Eliana. Emily Hart and her husband, Rev. Leigh Hart, and their five children, Megan, Ethan, Josiah, Sophia, and Adelle. Elaine and her husband, Drew Vogan. Philip Garwood and his wife, Heather, and their seven children, Simon, Sarah, Micah, Hannah, Nathan, Rachel, and Isaiah.  Jared Garwood and his wife, Meredith, and their four sons, Joel, Jonah, Gabriel, and Levi.

A viewing will be held at the Faith Lutheran Church, 12 N. West Street Yerington, 6:00 - 8:00 pm Thursday, January 30.  His Funeral service will be held at the Church 11:00 am Friday, January 31st.  Interment will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday, February 7th.

Family and friends are invited to sign his guest book at www.FRFH.net, also sympathy cards can be sent directly to Mrs. Garwood from this site.

Arrangements are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, Nevada 89447 (775) 463-2911.