Craig Hamilton Everts

passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, Washington. Craig was born on April 18, 1939 in Appleton, Wisconsin to Frank and Carolyn Everts. He served as a marine reconnaissance leader in Vietnam, parachuting and scuba diving. He graduated from the University of Southern California in Mining Engineering and then earned a PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in Geophysics. He had a passion for coastal processes and became a renowned coastal scientist.In 1995 he decided to trade money for time. He and his wife Carol purchased a 40-foot ocean going sail boat and took off exploring the South Seas for 11 years. After the birth of their second daughter they chose to start a new chapter and settled on Bainbridge Island.A few days before Craig passed away, he had elective hernia day surgery. The procedure was complicated by scar tissue from colon cancer surgery back in the 1980's and he was hospitalized. The doctors took him back in for exploratory surgery on Sunday. He went into cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated.He leaves behind his wife of 14 years, Carol Eldon, and their two daughters Moorea, 13, and Tanna, 9; his daughter, Courtney Mykytyn (Roman) and two grandchildren, Stefan, 13, and Lucia, 11; his son, Ian Everts (Elisabeth) and a grandson, Gustav, 4; his sister, Lynn Everts-Solie (Bill), and his brother, Scott Everts (Greta).Craig was an avid coastal scientist who was constantly writing formulas and papers, even in retirement. He loved to bike ride and kept in excellent shape. He was an active Kiwanian who loved to serve his community. He was a passionate explorer and traveler and was always searching out a new adventure. He was a woodsman who bought forest property at age 11 and continued buying and managing it up to his dying day in the hopes of keeping our environment safe and secure for future generations. He was witty and funny, a solid rock to his family. His unexpected passing has been a real blow.There will be a celebration of Craig's life on Sunday, January 31, at 3:30 pm on Bainbridge Island, WA at Pru's House (10549 Mandus Olson Rd).If you would like to make a donation in Craig's memory, Craig would have been honored to have his love of the forest taken into consideration. Memorial donations can be made to the Wisconsin Woodlands Association http://wisconsinwoodlands.org/donate/. Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home. Please sign the online guest book for the family.