Everett Bickford

Concord - Everett Bickford died peacefully December 11, 2014 surrounded by the love of his family under the care of Concord, NH Regional Hospice at Havenwood/Heritage Heights. Born 11/13/22 and raised on a farm in Rochester, NH on what is now known as Bickford Road to parents Ernest and Frances (Kendall) Bickford. He graduated from Spaulding High School in 1940, the first class to graduate from "that new $1M school". Immediately after Pearl Harbor in 1941 he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served his country with pride and honor seeing action at the battles of Guadalcanal, Rendova, and New Georgia while stationed with the 9th Defense Battalion in the Solomon Islands. In February 1944 Sgt. Bickford was one of two selected out of thousands to a field appointment for Officers Training which was nearly complete at war's end. He was honorably discharged and completed his degree in Economics at Yale University June 1947. He was recruited into the Federal Bureau of Investigations and had a distinguished career that spanned 30 years with assignments in Baltimore, MD, Detroit, MI, Albany, NY, Boston, MA, Nashua, Concord, and Portsmouth, NH as a special agent. After retirement from the F.B.I. he worked as a deputy sheriff for Strafford County, an investigator for the NH Attorney General's Office and finished his career as a private investigator. An example of the best of the Greatest Generation he was a strong, patient, and caring man. "Bick" was known for his love of country, family and for being a man of deep faith. He was extremely intelligent with many interests starting with a lifelong love of reading, poetry, and US History. Everett and Dru enjoyed vacations and travel together including many fond memories of times spent in Florida. Happiness was time spent in the garden, watching the Red Sox or Patriots, puttering around at the "camp" in Milton, NH, or being a loving Grampy at family gatherings. Everett and family returned to live in Rochester from 1973 until 2002 when he moved to Heritage Heights of Concord, NH where he was an active member and participant in several activities and groups. He was predeceased by his parents, older brothers Lawrence, Roger, and Albert. He leaves behind a loving family, his wife of 67 years, Drucilla (Roberts), a daughter Tara Bickford Bailey and husband Glen of Scottsdale, AZ, son Thomas Bickford and wife Dorothy, of Kittery Point ME, son Timothy Bickford and wife Collette of Lebanon, ME, and son Tad Bickford and husband Christopher, of North Andover, MA along with his dear grandchildren: Jennifer Bickford, Erica Bickford PhD, Jonathan Bickford, Morgan Caraviello and husband Peter (newlyweds of 3 months), Lauren Bickford, and Jeremy Bailey. He also leaves a dear sister-in-law Mary Bickford of Rochester, and cousin Burton Bickford and wife Esther of Lebanon, NH, Ralph Leib of Concord, NH and many nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews. He belonged to the society of Former Special Agents of the F.B.I., NH Criminal investigators Association, First Church Congregational of Rochester NH, and was a longtime Cancer Society volunteer. Visiting hours will be Wednesday December 17th, 2014 from 2 - 4pm at the Barrows Chapel at Heritage Heights, 149 East Side Drive, Concord, NH 03301. A memorial service will be held Sunday December 21st, 2014 at 2pm in the afternoon at First Church Congregational, 63 So. Main St, Rochester, NH 03867. Donations may be made to First Church Congregational 63 So. Main St, Rochester, NH 03867, or Former Agents of the FBI Foundation, 3717 Fettler Park Drive, Dumfries, VA 22025 Cremation is under the care of the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral home, 86 South Main St, Rochester NH 03867, 332-0230, www.edgerlyfh.com