Everett Deschner

Everett Deschner was born on July 7, 1940, in Bebe, Texas. He was the fourth son of Henry and Hannah Siepmann Deschner. The family soon moved “to town” and settled in Gonzales. He never forgot his Gonzales roots. It is there he met the love of his life, Carolyn Tinsley, although they did not begin dating until college.

Everett considered the most significant accomplishment of his life to be convincing Carolyn to marry him. They married on September 1, 1963, and had two daughters, Elizabeth Ann and Katherine.

Everett felt he had three fulfilling and meaningful careers in his life. He completed his master’s degree at The University of Texas at Austin in Petroleum Engineering and began a long career in the oil and gas industry. In his over forty years of active engineering, he authored or participated in well over thirty technical papers, reports, talks and proposals. His projects included studies in some of the largest oil and gas fields in the world, and he retired as Vice President of International Production for Santa Fe Energy Resources. In retirement he continued his love of learning, completing certification to identify and appraise diamonds and gemstones, museum docent training, Comal County Citizen’s Sheriff Academy, Texas Master Naturalist training, and many others.

His second career began when he and Carolyn built their dream home and retired to the shore of Canyon Lake, just down the road from a small museum. They volunteered at The Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country, where he helped acquire and preserve the remaining portions of a world-class site of dinosaur tracks on the museum property. He made innumerable presentations on the analysis of dinosaur track sites, invertebrate paleontology and earth science to groups as varied as preschoolers, elementary and middle schoolers, teachers, university classes, museum visitors, corporate and professional groups, and professional societies. He worked with some of the world’s leading paleontologists, ichnologists, and geologists, publishing papers with several of them.

His third career he considered the most important, and a privilege, to walk with Carolyn through her last years of illness to give her the dignity and respect she deserved. He stood by her, making her comfort and peace a priority, so she could live out her days at the house they built together on the lake.

Being much younger than his three brothers, he considered them mentors and treasured their advice and examples. He took their love for him and paid it forward to their children, taking an interest in their lives, their families, and their achievements. He hoped to give back to them some of what his brothers gave to him throughout his life.

In his last few years, Everett enjoyed the company of Sara Norton, with whom he found new love, great conversation, and a new life after grief and loneliness. Her family welcomed him in, and he enjoyed being a part of all of their lives.

Everett was a Renaissance man, as were his father and his brothers, constantly learning and developing new interests. He will be remembered for his generosity, his professionalism, his humor, his wisdom, and his love for family. He shared his love of travel with his children and grandchildren, and he and Carolyn took them each on trips in the US and abroad. Recently he had hoped to gather a large family trip to Germany to connect younger generations. He was a beloved Daddy, Granddaddy, Papi, Uncle Everett, role model and patriarch.

Everett died on September 9, 2023, in Round Rock, Texas.

Everett was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Hannah Siepmann Deschner, his brothers Hank, Flip and Arlye Deschner, his daughter Katherine Deschner, and his wife of 58 years Carolyn Tinsley Deschner. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and Randy Nettles; grandsons Doug Nettles and wife Matraca, and John Nettles and wife Emma; granddaughter Kate Nettles; great-grandsons Paxton Everett and Eli Nettles; and many, many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at Gonzales Masonic Cemetery on Sunday, September 17, at 2:00 p.m. Flowers may be sent to Seydler-Hill Funeral Home in Gonzales. Donations may be made in Everett’s memory to The Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country in Sattler, or the charity of your choice.

All services are under the care and direction of Seydler – Hill Funeral Home.