Spiritual, Sympathetic, Compassionate, Helpful Advocate
Sara Everett was blessed with a sassy sense of humor, deep spiritual understanding, and unabashed boldness in defending the underdog. Throughout her life, she displayed creativity and artistry, both in fine and performing arts, paired with a glowing smile and utter fearlessness. A spirit most at peace in the outdoors, she picked up skiing quickly as a child, and often trekked into forests and to the water’s edge throughout her life, finding beauty everywhere she went. Music, journaling, and movies made her happy, and family and friends meant the world to her. Equal parts indulgent and mindful, she appreciated ice cream sundaes and shopping sprees just as much as caring for others when they needed her most. With a love of healing energy and determination to spare, she brought joy and energy to all she touched.
Even as a child, Sara displayed sympathy beyond her years. An animal advocate to her core, she snuck strays into the family’s garage under her parents, Terry, and John’s, noses. Her gracefulness and flair for art led her to competitive baton-twirling with team Ameri-Kids, dance, and modeling as a child. As she aged, she appreciated doodling and geometric art to express her love of color and shape. Though school was challenging, she was determined to heal others and to gain her massage therapy license while working hard on sobriety post-treatment. While in treatment in Florida, she met her best friend John, who, along with her high school friend Rachel, formed Sara’s closeknit circle. Both continue in sobriety for Sara, who stopped at nothing to show them grace and love despite their disease. Family also meant the world to her, and she never missed a Christmas, delighted in shopping trips and spa days with her mother, and looked up to her brother Jim. She wanted the life her brother achieved; a self-sufficient and healthy one to be proud of.
Sara’s struggles with substance use disorder began in her school years, when social anxiety took hold. Despite this, she never gave up. In her future, Sara dreamed of using her spiritual strength and determination to achieve a life of healing others, independence, and travel. She wanted to help others in recovery, to sympathetically assist those with the same types of anxiety and depression that saddled her. Fiercely loyal, unafraid, and protective, she became the godmother of Rachel’s daughter Ava. Tragically, though, after only a year and a half of time with the baby, she became “Angel Sara.”
In the wake of Sara’s passing, her family and Rachel began Anchored in Hope, an outreach centered on addiction, assistance, and decreasing stigma. Sara and her perseverance inspire everything the outreach achieves, and in her mother’s words, “[Sara’s perseverance] taught me to never give up on things very important to you, even if unimaginably difficult.”
Sara’s mother, Terry Everett, provided the information for this narrative.
January 15, 1993-October 11, 2016-Age 23
Portrait Artist: Clayton Conner
Narrative Writer: Jill Denton
