Henry Edward ""Ed"" Everding, Jr.

Henry Edward ""Ed"" Everding, Jr., died early Thursday, June 29 in the morning at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. Ed was a beloved husband of Lee Palmer Everding, and father of daughters Linda (Mark), Lisa (Garyl), Kelly (Eric), and daughter-in-law Linda Dugger. Ed's son, Henry, died in a mountain climbing accident in 2005. In 2013, he published a book, Henry and Papa: A Letter to Emma from Her Great Grandfather about his close and adventurous relationship with Henry. Ed also leaves behind his six grandchildren and their spouses: Mackenzie (Kyle), Lance (Felicity), Stephanie (Oscar), Craig (Abby), and Lyssa (Chris); as well as his twelve great-grandchildren: Emma, Elsie, Madalaine, Annalise, Teddy, Zurielle, Zeke, Zerahiah, Evelyn, Tyson, and Laddie, and one on the way; his stepsons: Richard (Jilliann and Trace) and Bob (Gari, Angga, Maria, and Sophia); his ex-wife Colleen; and his sisters Susan (Ray) and Claire (Al, deceased), and sister-inlaw Beverly. His brother Louis passed away in 2009. Ed brought empathy, intelligence, generosity, and humor to every relationship, be they family, friends, colleagues, or acquaintances. He organized too-numerous-to-count great gatherings of family and friends for holidays and birthdays (often held at the Denver Country Club), to celebrate his enormous love for the people in his life. If Ed knew your birthday, you would get a card every year like clockwork. He loved nothing more than to take his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on shopping sprees at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Ed's love of travel, adventure, and good food was shared by his wife Lee, and with her they traveled the globe, visiting every continent on educational trips and cruises. They also loved visiting Hawaii and Las Vegas on a regular basis. He didn't let anything stop him, not even his recent health issues. He also cherished his travels with his son Henry and Henry's wife Linda D. to India, Tibet, and China. Ed was a marathon runner back in the day, and he enjoyed the company of many fellow runners (including his son and good friend Dana Wilbanks) and was proud of the many t-shirts he accumulated over the decades of his running life. Professionally, Ed was Emeritus Professor of Religious Education and New Testament at The Iliff School of Theology where he taught from 1967 to his retirement in 1999. From 1982-1985 he was Iliff's first Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs. Frequently he was asked to Chair search committees for new faculty members. He also led a longrange planning process in the 1980s that established social change and the global context as goals in the education of students. Before his tenure at Iliff, he taught New Testament at Perkins School of Theology. In addition, he frequently served as the Director of Iliff's Summer School in the 1970s and 1980s, teaching courses at Ring Lake Ranch near Dubois, WY. His publications reflect his interests in interdisciplinary research and writing, leading to books ( Decision Making and the Bible, with Dana Wilbanks; Viewpoints: Perspectives of Faith and Christian Nurture, with Lucinda Huffaker, Clarence Snelling, and Mary M. Wilcox; So that All May Know, with Thomas Troeger). Professor Everding was a member of both the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion; the Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education, the United Methodist Association of Scholars in Christian Education, and the Religious Education Association. Professor Everding also had a strong commitment to relate his scholarship and teaching to the ministries of churches. He was an Elder in the United Methodist Church, served in several United Methodist congregations, taught in many congregations as part of their Christian education programs. In his retirement, Prof. Everding and his wife, Lee, established the Distinguished Lecture Program in Anglican and Inter-Religious Studies at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral and the Iliff School of Theology. The purpose of this innovative program is to honor the Cathedral and Iliff by addressing issues from an Anglican, inter-religious or cross-cultural perspective and serves the education and spiritual missions of the Cathedral and Iliff. The funeral will be held on Friday, July 7, 2017, 11:00 am at St. John's Cathedral, 1350 N. Washington St., Denver, CO. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Ed's favorite non-profit funds: The Everding Distinguished Lecturer Program Fund c/o The Denver Foundation 55 Madison St., 8th Floor ~ Denver, CO 80206 Make check payable to Everding Distinguished Lecturer Program Fund Henry E. Everding III Memorial Scholarship c/o CSU Foundation PO Box 1870 ~ Ft. Collins, CO 80522 Make check payable to CSU Foundation Henry Everding Equine Fund c/o Ring Lake Ranch P.O. Box 806 ~ Dubois, WY 82513 Make check payable to Ring Lake Ranch Please share memories and condolences in the Guestbook.