He was born in Henderson County before moving to Saluda while in grade school. After graduating high school in Saluda he moved to Washington, D.C., and worked with the U.S. Secret Service during the Eisenhower Administration. Then he served in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years working as a cryptographer. He retired from Trans South Financial as senior vice president in 1999; then became administrative vice president of Spartan Chemical Laboratories, Inc. where he currently worked. He served as a city commissioner for Saluda and was instrumental in starting Saluda Medical Center. He also served numerous years on the medical center board, and was a mayor pro tem of Saluda for a period of time. He was a charter member of Saluda First United Methodist Church and served as a lay reader and Sunday School Teacher. Everette enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren supporting them during their various activities. He had a great love for all his family and particularly enjoyed cookouts with all yearly vacations with his siblings and their spouses. &bsp;

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Martha Seay Hardin; a daughter, Terry Hardin Smith and her husband Randy of Saluda; two sons, Mark E. Hardin and his wife Cindy of Boiling Springs, S.C., and Christopher R. Hardin and his wife Beth of Florence, S.C.; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three brothers, Noah L. Hardin and his wife Carolyn of Hendersonville, Robert J. Hardin and his wife Lynn of Lafayette, La., and Charles W. Hardin and his wife Bennie of Hendersonville; and a sister, Laura Partin of Hendersonville.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at Thos. Shepherd&squo;s Church Street Chapel with Rev. Robert L. Parsons Jr. and Rev. Tony Sayer officiating. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will take place at the Saluda City Cemetery at a later date. Military rites will be conducted by the Hubert M. Smith American Legion Post #77 and Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post #5206 and the Chapter #14 of the DAV.&bsp; An online register book is available at www.thosshepherd.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to:&bsp; Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, N.C. 28722 or the Saluda First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 551, Saluda, N.C. 28773.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.