Everett E. Boots, 61, Meriden, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010, at his home. He was born Sept. 23, 1949, in Manchester, Iowa, the son of Everett K. and Mary Ackers Boots. He attended Central City High School and later received his GED.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army and proudly served his country in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division during his term of service from 1969-1971. After his honorable discharge Everett traveled the country installing underground cable and doing commercial painting. He had lived in the Meriden area since 1990. He married Barbara Dayton in 1967 and they were later divorced.
Everett is survived by the love of his life, Judy Norton, at the home; two sons, Michael Boots (Angela), Ames, IA, and Jason Boots (Johanna), Grinnell, IA; his daughter, Amanda Boots (Nic), Cedar Rapids, IA; his two stepsons, Randy Norton (Candy), Meriden, KS and Jerry Taliaferro (Dana), Topeka, KS; his brother, Randy Rhodes and his sister, Sherry Ellis, both of Cedar Rapids, IA; 15 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a stepdaughter, Michelle Norton, in 2007.
The funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 27, 2010, at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Burial will follow at the Valley Falls Cemetery with military honors by American Legion Post 400. Visitation will be from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society and sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088.