Mrakava – Everett Mrakava beloved son, brother and friend to many, passed away suddenly on January 3, 2024 at the age of 47. Everett was the youngest son of Valentine and Jill Mrakava and raised on the family farm in Tilley, Alberta. He was a bit of a stinker when he was little, as not even the toot of the horn would speed him up to get to the bus. He always did things at his own pace and on his own agenda.
Everett decided that the ranching side of things was much more exciting than driving a tractor though. And when from an early age he donned a cowboy hat, we knew we had a budding horseman. From riding with his cousins Clint & Otto, the Dubois Valley Horse Camp, the ‘Legacy of Legends’ in Fort Worth Texas, clinics at Tick & Leanne’s, riding with Gord & Wendy, Chandra, and the many colt starting clinics he attended at Buck Brannaman and Peter Campbell’s clinics, he continued to hone his craft as he travelled from Alberta to Saskatchewan, B.C., and all the way to Texas with his faithful border collie July by his side (later Merle and then June took on that roll). Everett admired Peter so much, and worked so hard to be a horseman like him. “No one worked harder at the clinics than Everett did”, we are told. He even went down to Peter’s ranch to ride with him there.
His love of Palomino’s lead him to a special horse named Southern Gold Rush. From that beautiful stallion, Everett began his precious palomino herd. And even though Everett led a busy life with his cattle and horses, he always took time to somehow visit his family and friends…you just never knew when he’d roll in! His friends were important to him, and they knew they could depend on him when they needed a hand.
Everett was a bit of a roamer, and it took a few corral building adventures to finally start putting down roots, which he had finally started to do. We are grateful to the Mayerthorpe EMS and his friends Harvey and Jay and their families for the help they gracefully gave him on his last adventure, and for being there to provide CPR until the paramedics arrived at the ranch.
Everett was predeceased by his father Valentine and his brother Gerald. He is survived by his mother Jill and his sister Colleen (Dave) and many aunts, uncles and cousins. A funeral service will be held at 1:00pm on February 3, 2024 at Thoms Funeral Home and Reception Center, 477 Margaret Avenue East, Duchess, Alberta. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, PO Box 336 Stn. M, Calgary, AB T2P 9Z9 or to the Canadian Wildlife Federation, 350 Cowpland Dr., Kanalta, ON, K2M 2W1. For family members and friends unable to attend, there will be a provision to attend virtually or by phone. The Zoom link is: 844 0535 7436, PW: 1234 To listen in via phone, please call (587) 328-1099.
For further information, to light a memorial candle or to leave a message of sympathy, please visit www.thomsfuneralhome.com or call (403) 501-1010.
