EVERMAN, Amber Dawn 1984-2018

EVERMAN, BURKETT, THURMOND, MINIKUS, KIMBER

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 3/26/2018 at 10:55:36

Amber Everman, Amari Burkett & Ava Everman

Funeral Service:
Friday, March 23, 2018
Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church
7401 University Avenue
Cedar Falls, Iowa

Burial:
Garden of Memories Cemetery
3669 Logan Avenue
Waterloo, Iowa

Amber Dawn Everman was born April 11, 1984, in Waterloo, Iowa, daughter of John Everman and Brenda Minikus. She grew up in Cedar Falls, attending North Cedar and Southdale Elementary Schools, Holmes Middle School and Cedar Falls High School graduating with the Class of 2002.

Amber attended Hawkeye Community College as her passion for animals led her to study Animal Science to become a Veterinary Assistant. She also attended Kaplan University to study Business. This combination gave Amber all of the skills necessary to work at the Jesup Veterinary Clinic. She met and fell in love with Darius Burkett-Thurmond in 2002 and they had four beautiful children together.

She enjoyed horror movies and loved scary books. In 2010, Amber and Darius were able to realize their dream when they started breeding American Bullies. Above all else, Amber loved Darius, their children, and their “furry” children.

Amari Myon Burkett was born September 28, 2008, in Waterloo, son of Amber Everman and Darius Burkett-Thurmond. He lived in Waterloo and attended Orchard Hill Elementary in Cedar Falls where he was currently in the 3rd grade. He was an incredibly active nine year-old who enjoyed riding his bike, playing in the dirt and being in the pool. Amari loved to play with his sisters, friends, and cousins. He also loved nerf guns. Amari looked up to his father and loved sharing special “guy” time, especially living in a house full of girls. He wanted to be a construction worker when he grew up.

Ava ShaNeigh Everman was born August 13, 2012, in Waterloo, daughter of Amber Everman and Darius Burkett-Thurmond. She also lived in Waterloo and was a Kindergartner at Orchard Hill Elementary. Ava loved to dress up and, then, would play outside with her pretty pink fingernails in the dirt and mud. She was a diva tomboy! Ava had a huge personality packed into her tiny little body. She loved her older sisters – Aaliyah would style her hair and Ramiyah would make musical videos with her. She would fight with Amari, but they were the very best of friends. Ava loved My Little Pony and the movie, Frozen. She was sweet and curious and beautiful inside and out.

On Thursday, March 15, 2018, the Everman-Burkett family’s lives changed forever when an early morning house fire claimed the lives of Amari (9) and Ava (5). Amber was also seriously injured and passed away the next day on Friday, March 16, 2018, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics at the age of 33 years.

They were preceded in death by Amber’s grandparents, Earl and Gloria Minikus and Lloyd Holman; her uncle, Jerry Kimber; her aunt, Earlene Howard; her uncle, Marvin Minikus; and her aunt, Angela Minikus.

They are survived by husband/father, Darius; grandparents/great-grandparents, Wayne (Carol) Everman of Decorah; parents/grandparents: John (Martha Platt) Everman of Cedar Falls and Brenda (Brian Holman) Minikus; mother-in-law/grandmother, Yvonnea Weatherly of Cedar Falls; daughters/sisters, Aaliyah Everman and Ramiyah Everman; stepson/half-brother, Zakkia Shorter; sisters/aunts: Alyssa Everman of Waterloo, Candis Holman Wolff of Waterloo, Kayla Holman of Cedar Falls, and Tuasha Fleming of Waterloo; brothers/uncles: Josh Ehrenhard of Glenwood, Greg Burkett and Sam Platt of Waterloo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to help with the many upcoming expenses they face as they rebuild their household and lives.

SOURCE: Parrott & Wood Funeral Home website