Phillip Devening

Phillip Guy Devening, 74, died unexpectedly at 3:10 p.m,, Friday, June 8, 2018 from injuries sustained in a farming accident.

He was born on Jan. 27, 1944 on the family farm in Richwood Township in Jersey County, one of four children born to Edwin Theodore "E.T." and Minnie (Hagen) Devening.

He graduated in 1962 from Jersey Community High School, and immediately began his lifelong passion with the farm.  He has operated their grain and livestock farm with pride and hard work, and has instilled those same values into his children and grandchildren.  He was proud to have remained on the family farm from which he was born, and could not have chosen a better place to be when God called him home.  

He was currently serving as the Richwood Township Road Commissioner, a position he has held since 1990, and was sexton and caretaker of the Gunterman Cemetery, a role which he assumed from his father.

He married the former Helen Lucille Wisdom on March 14, 1964 at the Fieldon United Church of Christ, and together they have shared 54 years together, raising their two children and enjoying the benefits of their grandchildren.

Surviving are his wife, Helen Devening of Fieldon; a son and daughter in-law, Ted and Cheri Devening of Fieldon; a daughter and son in-law, Crystal and Michael Plunkett of Fieldon; five grandchildren and their spouses, Zachary and Lyndsey Devening ofJerseyville, Jessica Devening of Fieldon, Kendra and Frankie Witt Jr. of Hardin, Jamie Plunkett and Trevor Plunkett both ofFieldon; three great grandchildren, Tucker Witt and Gunner and Gracie Devening; along with his three sisters and brothers in-law, Marie Jackson of Rockbridge, Katherine and Oliver Wessel of Rockbridge, and Pearl and Robert Snyders of Batchtown.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother in-law, Russell Jackson; and his father in-law and mother in-law, Ray and Hazel Wisdom.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.   Rev. John Shelton will officiate.

He will be laid to rest at the Gunterman Cemetery in Fieldon.

Memorials may be given to the Gunterman Cemetery, Fieldon United Church of Christ or the Fieldon Volunteer Fire Department.