ALBION — Everett Daniel Leatherman, 90, passed away on January 6, 2015, at the North Ridge Village Rehabilitation Center in Albion, Indiana. He was born on November 21, 1924, in Garrett, Indiana, to Daniel Temple and Blanch Vera Leatherman. Everett and his siblings — Ernest Eugene, Donald Cifford (dec.), Helen Louise Cardinal, Joan Eloise Bushong, Lenord Lee, Fonda Lucille Muesing, Melford Steven, Joseph Jay, and Keith Sterling — were all raised in the family homestead at 301 Oak St. in Albion. Everett grew up during the Great Depression and to provide for his siblings he often had to board at local farms working teams of horses during the plowing and harvesting seasons. A stone fence piling that he build in 1937 when he was 13 still exists on north C.R. 100E in Albion. He met his wife of 65 years, Grace, at a YMCA dance in Fort Wayne at the end of WWII while she attended International Business College. Shortly after marrying in 1947, Everett was swept up in the epidemic of tuberculosis which spread across the country in 1940s, from which he lost part of a lung but won the battle to return to Grace and his first son, Everett Duane, in Albion. In the post WWII era, Everett worked together with his family to form Leatherman Brothers Inc. Overtime, this venture grew to include automotive sales extending from the Studebaker to the Ford lines. This investment helped to inspire and foster many other businesses in his family and community to which many still serve the community today. From his boyhood, Everett's dream was to become an engineer. He was always sketching designs and inventions in a small leather book he always hoped would also hold his future. And just like George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life" he wanted to attend college and find a path to make his dreams come true. When Everett's mother Blanch died with children at home, Grace and Everett had to help provide for their care. When the community needed new businesses after WWII, he and his family were there to serve. When new businesses followed his family's investments and new families needed homes to live in, he and his family helped plan and build. When the community needed someone to operate the plants and facilities which sprung up alongside his family's life long works, he was there once again. Even though his book of dreams now sits still, the sacrifices of Everett's life for the community and family inspired many whose dreams he was in his last days happy to be a part. Everett was preceded in death by his wife, Grace, in 2013, and a daughter, Marsha Ann in 1949. He is survived by his sons and daughter, Duane (Nona), Dan, Dean (Jane), and Dennis (Lori), all of Albion, Indiana, and Debbie (Keith Adkins) of Louisville, Kentucky. His grandchildren are: oldest to youngest — Tommy, Michael, Ethan, Hope (Adkins), Ben, Paige (Adkins), Jonah, Meleah (Leatherman), Olivia and Dulcie (Adkins). In Ohio, Everett is survived by a nephew and two nieces, Curt Armstrong, Janet (Armstrong) Hickerson, and Twila (Armstrong) Williams. He was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Junior Armstrong in 1973; and sister-in-law, Onolee Snyder Armstrong in 1990. Everett is also survived by 21 Leatherman nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Albion with visitation one hour prior to service. Visitation will also be held at the from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, Jan 9, 2015 ,at Brazzell Funeral Home, Albion Chapel, 771 Trail Ridge Road, Albion. Burial is at Rose Hill Cemetery, Albion, with military honors. The family will be greeting friends and relatives at a luncheon following the graveside service. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Fund. To leave online condolences, visit www.brazzellfuneralhomes.com.