Francis Earl "Cotton" Everett

Francis Earl “Cotton” Everett, age 77, of Dothan, Alabama, passed away surrounded by family at his home on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at Ferguson Cemetery in Chipley, Florida, with Pastor Ryan Gutowski officiating. Please consider casual, Florida dress in celebration of Earl.

Earl was born number nine in a brood one-shy-of-a-dozen to Herbert and Carrie Belle Everett in the sandhills of Northwest Florida. His beginnings were humble, seasoned, and enriched with the importance of sweat, persistence, perspective, and generosity. Earl, best known by “Cotton” (a moniker most fitting to his stark, platinum blonde hair) cultivated, early on, love for the land in gardening and harvesting, especially tomatoes; appreciation for the wholesome bounties offered in nature through squirrel-stalking with his mutt named Snowball; an appetite for exploration and wanderlust often trekking to the seemingly faraway Alabama bounds of Houston County to visit his sister Audrey; and for prosperity in recognizing the fruits of hard labor and artful tactics, regularly peddling his sister’s boiled peanuts on the town corner and outsmarting the old folk in the local poolhall. He was fueled by fortitude and diversly equipped to tackle the world. 

Earl manned his reins of life to proudly graduate from the Chipola Business School Program in 1965. Shortly after, he enlisted with the Florida Army National Guard to which he dedicated six years of patriotic duty and honorably discharged as SGT and a decorated sharpshooter. Following college, he ventured to Perry, Florida, where he embraced the world of business working alongside his brother Don at Phillips Gas Station. He honed his innate gift of gab and excelled in customer service. There, he made fast friends with the local mobile home dealer, Jim Graham. In 1971, Jim paved the path for opportunity in a business that ultimately became one of Earl’s most identifiable trademarks. He sold, invested, and installed countless homes across several states for the majority of his working days. 

Earl donned many nametags through his years-son, brother, friend, lover, and, on occasion, a myriad of expletives; though, his proudest titles were Dad, Papa, and Pearl. He instilled strong ethics in each of his children, there were no half-days or half-ways tolerated. He encouraged them through firm direction, tender counsel, and a genuine showing of pride for all their accomplishments. He was intentional in providing unforgettable experiences that were then, and especially now, savored as priceless memories. 

He often said, “every day is a holiday,” and he certainly lived them as such. He never missed the chance to indulge in a cold Coca-Cola or a weekend Corona “Ex-tree”; to cruise the seas; strike it penny rich on the slots, or bargain a few chips in a game of five card draw; stir the coveys, cast the lines, or to “drop one in its tracks.” He cherished hand-written sentiments, porch-sitting with family, good sugars (the kissing kind), and a pan of damn-fine tomato gravy. Earl’s tales were teetering and tall, his legacy lively and long-he was absolutely one-of-a-kind.

Earl is survived by his children, Angela Everett, Christy Jones (Bryan), Dustin Everett (Rae), and Blake Everett (Kristin); grandchildren, Logan Mathews (Ryan), Clinton Dean McNett, Bryan Jones, Kaden Hutcheson, Raelyn Everett, and Eva Everett; great-grandchildren, Rylynn Mathews and Asher McNett; sister, Betty Cureton (Paul); brother, Danny Everett (Toni); numerous nieces and nephews; former wife, Carol Everett; and longtime best friend, Jim Graham. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert Edgar and Carrie Belle Ferguson Everett; brothers, Billy Gene Everett, Milton Everett, Don Everett, Sr., Jerry Everett, and Carthell Everett; and sisters, Virginia Morris, Audrey Newman, and Linda Worthington.

The family wishes to extend many heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Enhabit Hospice and Wiregrass Homecare for their dedicated and compassionate care throughout Earl’s time of need. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his honor to the Ferguson Cemetery Fund (c/o W.T. Miller, 2374 Ferguson Rd., Chipley, Florida 32428) or to a charity of choice. The staff of Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the Everett family.