Everett L. “Bill” Baccus

Everett L. “Bill” Baccus, formerly of Kenedy, TX was  born on June 15,1924 to the late Jim and Annie (Newberry)Baccus passed away on December 9, 2020 at the age of 96.  He was born in a tent in Knox County on the Busby family farm during the cotton harvest. In 1932, the family settled in Kenedy, TX where he lived until ww2. He had to wait until he turned 18 to enlist, which he did in Houston, TX on August 24, 1942. He was one of the original crew of the USS Pursuit AM108, which he served on until the end of his service.

He married Mary Atherton on March 2, 1947 and they settled in Corpus Christi,TX where he was working at carpentry through the Carpenter’s Union, until he obtained a sheet metal apprenticeship for the Navy Overhaul and Repair Unit on NAS Corpus Christi. When that facility closed in 1959, he found work at Mooney Aircraft, and moved the family to Kerrville, TX. In 1962, the Army opened an aircraft repair facility at NAS Corpus, so he retuned to work there as a journeyman metal smith. He retired on May 1, 1988, as an Inspector in Quality Control.

Bill and Mary enjoyed traveling and birdwatching throughout the US (the only state he and she did not visit were Main and Vermont). While their eldest daughter was living and working in Europe,  they visited and traveled in Europe. In Germany,they cruised the Rhine River and hiked in the Alps. In Great Britian, they searched for the Loch Ness Monster and explored castles. Bill’s dearest trip was the visit to the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in 2010. He distinctly remembered the placement of every destroyed vessel in the aftermath of the bombing. They also enjoyed their three grown daughters and their husbands, and celebrating the growth and achievements of their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is survived by two brothers: Jimmy Baccus and W. F. Baccus and their wives; his late wife’s sister: Louella Syring of Kenedy; his three daughters: Barbara Lou Voss, Rebecca Sue Pullum and Pamela Dru Mote, their husbands; five grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

A Graveside service was held on Saturday, June 19th, 2021 at 10:00a.m. at Kenedy Cemetery with Rev. Danielle Knapp of The Kenedy/Karnes City United Methodist officiating. Family and friends participated in celebrating his life and U. S. Navy Honors were rendered. Flag was presented to his oldest daughter, Barbara. Congregational music included the songs: “I Need Thee Every Hour” and “Amazing Grace”. His urn was placed for burial with his wife Mary.