Everett Eugene Kellogg, 84, peacefully left this earth Friday, June 10, 2022 (8:27 a.m.), after defiantly fighting health issues that became particularly challenging over the last six months. Ultimately, his amazing heart — which lent him his generosity, love, kindness, and courage — began to lose strength after holding out for nearly 30 years after a quadruple bypass and aorta replacement — an amazing accomplishment even by today’s medical advances.
Everett was born Aug. 15, 1937, to Everett Roland Kellogg and the former Mary Ann (Agnes) Smythe in Kansas City, Kan. He was big brother to Jimmie, who was always by his side throughout their childhood adventures: riding bikes through their KCK neighborhood, dressing up as cowboys, spending hours at the local firehouse watching the firemen play dominoes, and spending a summer in the wooded land of Devil’s Elbow, Mo., when his dad worked a construction job at Fort Leonard Wood.
As a teen, he attended Northwest Junior High School (at 18th and Haskell) and Wyandotte High School (25th and Minnesota Ave.). He played basketball and helped out at his father’s paint store. And he began his love affair with cars that would last the rest of his life, starting with the purchase of a 1931 Ford Model A Coupe.
His father tragically died when Everett was only 17, and he always had a hole in his heart from not being able to say goodbye. His family had lovingly tried to protect him and Jim from knowing how ill their father had been, not taking the teens to visit their dad in the hospital and making his death a difficult shock for both.
An early job was working at the TWA Overhaul Base at the Kansas City Industrial Airport, where his mother also worked as a manager. He ran orders between the “radio shack” in the middle of the building to others in charge of making repairs. He remembered how his appearance would often cause good-hearted groans among the workers because it meant they had a new task, and he would laugh recalling their ability to make the work — no matter how big or small — exactly fit the allotted time that would fill their pockets with extra overtime pay.
He began taking classes at Kansas City, Kansas, Community College, as well as commuting to the University of Kansas in Lawrence, studying engineering. But he soon met the woman who would be his partner for more than 50 years: Virginia Mae Hott. The handsome hunk and beautiful bride “with the legs” (his words in looking back at photos of their early dating days) were married on Aug. 3, 1958, at Western Highlands Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Kan. After an abbreviated honeymoon to Colorado (they decided they’d seen all they wanted), they headed home early so they could put the unspent honeymoon cash toward furnishing their new apartment at 1710 State Ave.
While Everett pursued his college classes, Virginia began working at Pierre’s Salon. When she became pregnant a year later with son Curtis Wayne, she suggested he enroll in beauty college so that he could “take her chair” until she was able to return to work. What was intended to be a short-term stint turned into a career as he discovered talents he never knew he had in working with people and being creative. His wit and skill kept many of his clients devoted to him for decades.
He spent 8 years working for other people. Then, in 1968, he purchased the salon where he worked in Brookside from its previous owner and renamed it Everett Kellogg Hairdresser. (In the 1980s, his daughter Gina convinced him to change the name to Salon Kellogg to better fit contemporary expectations.) When he opened his salon, there were eight others in Brookside. By the time he retired, only his still existed.
Early on a Sunday morning in January 1978, a fire ravaged the building and destroyed nearly all that was in it. Almost immediately, he and Virginia began negotiations with the salon owner across the street to purchase that shop so they could reopen as soon as possible. The firemen had managed to save the water-soaked appointment book from the salon, and the two of them contacted all of their customers, purchased all the needed supplies, and were back open for business Tuesday morning just steps away from their original address without a single hour of downtime. He was a conscientious business owner, often generously helping new stylists get started. Virginia worked alongside him for years before leaving the salon to take on the responsibilities of running the Brookside Business Association and launching the inaugural Brookside Art Annual and Brookside St. Patrick’s Day parade. He was a staunch supporter of her efforts that brought nationwide fame to the historic shopping area.
He was active early in their marriage teaching Sunday school to teens and acting as a deacon at their church, Westport Presbyterian. He was also a member of various bowling teams and became a member in the local Optimist Club.
Four years after the birth of son Curtis Wayne, Everett became father to Gina Beth and, two years later, to Lorie Ann. By the early 1970s, he and Virginia made the decision to allow her father Charlie to move in with them. (She had been named as his guardian, and he lived with the family for more than 20 years.) The young couple, their three children, and now grandpa, were squeezed tight into their tiny home on Eaton Street in Prairie Village. They purchased a beautiful ranch on 67th Street, also in Prairie Village. Tragically, another fire consumed that home, and they had to start over, rebuilding on the same foundation — but, this time, reimagining a house for just the two of them. Many years later, in the early 2000s, when they decided they no longer needed such a large home, he was proud to learn that his was the first to sell for more than $200k, an astounding amount for a home in his neighborhood at that time.
In 2008, he sold the salon and retired, a few years after Virginia suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall. He often referred to the last 10 years with her as the happiest of their marriage because of the many adventures they were able to take together. They traveled the United States and the world, visiting Greece and Turkey, Mexico, Canada (especially Nova Scotia), San Francisco, New Orleans, Florida, and New England. A good portion of their retirement was devotedly focused on their only grandchild, Cole Elliott Hogan, whom they proudly introduced to everyone they met. Cole spent all the summers of his childhood with them, and they took him on many trips and cross-country vacations. A favorite memory Everett loved to tell was when he’d asked Cole where they should go on vacation that summer. Having learned about Mt. Rainier, a dormant super volcano that’s been overdue to erupt for hundreds of years, Cole said, “Anywhere but Mt. Rainier.” Eventually, they decided to take a cruise to Alaska. Upon arriving in Seattle to board the ship, Cole suddenly realized where they were and said, “Grandpa, remember where I told you the only place I didn’t want to go this summer?” It was a memory that always brought a laugh.
Throughout his life, Everett loved cars. He could rattle off every car he had ever owned (including those he’d bought for his children when they were first drivers — a total of 33!). His main passion was the Ford Mustang. He purchased a 1968 white Mustang convertible in 1971/72 that he and Curt spent hours restoring. Later, he added a baby blue 1972 Mustang and, much later, a bright yellow 2004 Mustang. But he always held on to his 1968 beauty. In retirement, he became avidly involved with the Mustang Club of Greater Kansas City, serving as president, and winning numerous awards. Cole accompanied him on several road trips to car shows in other states driving the 1968 and then the 2004. An especially memorable trip was when, on the drive back from Oklahoma, the 1968 blew a tire, and Everett had to steer the car to safety on the side of the road. After that (and a few other incidents of being stalled unexpectedly around town — including in the middle of one of the Brookside St. Patrick’s Day parades), Virginia adamantly declared she would no longer accompany him on any long-distance drives in that vintage auto. That led to his purchase of the newer 2004 so she would once again join him on the road.
In the last few years, Everett owned several PT Cruisers. His first, a manual transmission, was a favorite, followed a few years later by an automatic (intended to be Virginia’s). He followed the PT Cruisers with two Ford Freestyles. But when he realized a Freestyle would likely be the last car he owned, he decided he wanted something with more style — but that also would allow him easy access in and out. (The decades of standing all day as a stylist had ruined his knees, causing him great pain as he got older.) He soon purchased a fiery red Ford Edge. It might not have been as fun to drive or as flashy as his Mustangs, but he nevertheless took great pride in it.
When Virginia suffered a severe hemorrhagic stroke in 2016, Everett was by her side every day, from the hospital, to the rehab facility, and then at home. Lorie soon moved from the Catskills in New York State to help. Eventually, as Virginia’s health worsened, it became too difficult for them to care for her, and Everett made the painful decision to move her to a skilled nursing facility. He chose one nearby so that he could be with her as much as possible. And he spent every day with her, even as her body and mind declined and she no longer recognized those she loved.
Soon after her death in 2019, he moved from their residence at the Four Colonies neighborhood in Lenexa to an independent living community, Leawood Town Village. He began a new life of rebuilding friendships and picking up activities he’d given up for so many years. He chose the location due to its near-perfect equal proximity to his two oldest children, making it easy for him to see them while still not being too distant from his youngest to also visit. He loved his life there. He suggested starting a men’s club, and soon after a monthly event was organized with beverages, pizza and “man talk.” He joined many card groups, playing poker with the men and Rummikub with the ladies. He also excelled at trivia, helping his team win several tournaments nationwide against other communities. He loved to confide in how the women in the facility told him that they secretly rated all the men in the facility based on their ability to converse, and that he had rated among the highest on their list. He loved calling his kids on the phone while sitting on the patio at his community, giving a little dig that, while they were working, he was enjoying a pina colada or other fancy drink while listening to live music and enjoying some special appetizers for whatever holiday was being celebrated.
Over the last few years, as his knees bothered him more and more, family gatherings were spent at the home of his son Curt and daughter-in-law Gayla. While they had purchased their home with the intent to host such events, it was also the easiest for Everett to visit because it had the fewest steps. And, at the beginning of the pandemic, when senior facilities began closing their doors to visitors to keep residents safe (but where COVID was also spreading the most rapidly), Curt and Gayla brought him to live with them, setting up a bedroom for him in the dining room of the main floor of their home, so that he could live safely there away from the virus.
Later, back at Leawood Town Village, he did actually catch the virus from one of his dinner companions just before vaccines became available. His family was relieved and grateful that his case was mild and didn’t cause him serious illness, though he was soon hospitalized for another illness, which he again overcame to return to his apartment. Similarly, he survived a bout of bladder cancer several years earlier.
In addition to spending holidays with his family, he enjoyed gathering to watch the Chiefs, KU basketball and football, and golf. And when a new season of “Survivor” started, he would join Gina and her husband Mark every Wednesday. That tradition evolved from switching between their home and Everett’s apartment to watching solely from his place to save him the drive. Even during the last 6 months, Gina visited him every Wednesday so they could continue to watch together, mixing him up his favorite cocktail, a Cuba libre (more commonly referred to as rum and Coke with lime).
While his last few days were difficult and his family’s hearts were breaking as they watched him struggle so valiantly, they were grateful for the incredible kindnesses shown to him. They particularly would like to thank Grace Maloba, LPN, the Resident Care Director at Colonial Oaks Assisted Living (Leawood, Kan.), for allowing dad to move there despite her concerns about his health. She said she could see “the will to fight” and get stronger in dad, and she wanted him to have the chance to gain back the strength he had achieved only a few weeks before. Unfortunately, he was only there for four nights before being sent to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
The healthcare staff in the ER was phenomenal, but one nurse stood far and above the rest: Patrice (Patty) Miller, RN. While caring for him as part of the hospital’s “float crew,” she was able to explain the changes in dad’s condition as the hours passed to help us prepare for what was to come. She was compassionate beyond compare, and when her shift ended at 7 Thursday evening, she promised that she would check in on dad the next morning. Sure enough, she arrived at 7 a.m., having specifically asked to be assigned as dad’s nurse on the Telemetry floor. And she was there to help Gina grieve through the last minutes of dad’s life — helping her to find peace in the obvious serenity they both could see in Everett as he left this earth to head toward his heavenly home with Virginia, the love of his life.
Everett was preceded in death by his father, Everett Roland Kellogg; his mother Mary (Smythe) Kellogg; and his brother, James Lee Kellogg.
He is survived by his son Curtis Wayne Kellogg and wife Gayla Kellogg (Overland Park, Kan.); daughter Gina Beth Kellogg and husband Mark Werner (Overland Park, Kan.); daughter Lorie Ann Kellogg and partner Brandt Nesbit (Kansas City, Mo.); grandson Cole Elliott Hogan (Kansas City, Kan.); sister-in-law Marvell Kellogg (Kansas City, Kan.); bonus grandchildren, Matt Werner and wife Amy Werner (St. Louis) and Cassie Miller and husband Dave Miller (Mokane, Mo.); and his bonus great grandchildren: Holly and Juliet Werner and Coralynn, Gwendolyn, and Emmitt Miller.
Family visitation will take place Monday, June 20, at 5 p.m. at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, Kan., followed by a memorial service at 6 p.m. A live stream will be available at https://youtu.be/G6p5ZOavrB4
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Everett’s name to the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, 5445 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66104, https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/HumaneSocietyofGreaterKans/onlinegiving.html