03/04/09 - NNHS Newsletter - Carl DeVard

Carl John DeVard, Jr.
(02 May 1935 - 28 Feb 2009)

His professional career included contracting and carpentry. He owned a construction business and collected many different woodworking tools. Carl also enjoyed buying and selling real estate. He worked for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a mechanic, maintaining and upgrading many church buildings throughout Southern Illinois.

Throughout his life Carl was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America and spent a lot of time outdoors hiking, camping, spelunking, and rappelling. He enjoyed small aircraft aviation and owned two different planes, a Piper Cub and an Aeronca 11AC.

Throughout his life he was interested in magic and learned and publicly performed various magic tricks and learned hypnosis while still in high school. He enjoyed coin collecting and metal detecting. He was an avid chess and ping-pong player and excelled at both.

After retiring, Carl didn’t stop working and learning. He continued to work as an independent contractor fixing and upgrading church buildings. He started learning Italian and also became a Certified Hypnotherapist and helped many people overcome problems to improve their lives, often-times at no charge.

Carl loved spending time with people both old and young. He enjoyed teaching youth to rappel and also spending time with friends at the Marion Senior Center. Carl was an excellent listener and truly cared about others. He enjoyed do-it-yourself construction projects which he often did for other people. He was a great example of selfless service.

Carl loved his family and especially enjoyed spending time with his children.

He is survived by his daughter, Sariah DeVard of Provo, UT; four sons and one daughter-in-law, Carl John DeVard III of New Orleans, LA, Joshua Michael DeVard of Magna UT, Sterling Noll & Cori Anne DeVard of Arcadia, CA and Jordan Dean DeVard of Oahu, HI; three grandsons, Carl John DeVard IV, Theron J. Moore-DeVard and Donovan Mariano DeVard; sister, Lynn McCormick of Lawrence, KS; one niece, Melissa McCormick and her husband, Ed Noonen; one nephew, Jason McCormick; other extended family members and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother, Carl Lewis DeVard.

Arrangements for Carl John DeVard, Jr. have been entrusted to Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home 900 N. Court St. Marion, IL.

The time of visitation for family and friends will be Friday evening, March 6th between the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home and will continue after 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the church.

The funeral service will be at 12:00 noon, on Saturday, March 7th, 2009, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 17947 Route 37, West Frankfort, IL, with Bishop Derek Key officiating.

Interment will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery of Marion.

For those who prefer a memorial contribution in memory of Carl may be made to “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” or “The Marion Senior Center” and mailed in care of Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home P.O. Box 370, Marion, IL 62959. Memorial contribution envelopes will be available at the funeral home and the church.

For additional information or to leave an online condolence or memory, please visit our website at www.wilsonmcreynolds.com  or call 618-993-2131.

Also published in the Journal-News (Hillsboro, IL) on 3/4/2009.
Send Online Condolences
View Condolences

Dale And Dean Halleman - Mar 5th, 2009 at 08:56 PM:

C.J., Josh, Sterling, Jordan, and Sariah, We are sorry to hear about your Dad and know it is hard for you to lose him. You are in our thoughts and prayers, hold on to your knowledge that he is in a higher plain and in no pain anymore. Your testimonies will get you through this time. We know you have family that will always be there for you together as sibs and you always have each other to talk to and hold on to. Your mom is one of a kind and will keep you in step together leaning on Christ. God bless you all and our love to each of you, Dale and Dean Halleman  

Kelly Halleman - Mar 5th, 2009 at 11:14 PM:

Josh, Sorry to hear about your loss. We are thinking of you and your family. Sincerely, Kelly, Sarah, Deven, Kyra, and Kylee Halleman  

Debbi Locke McMahon - Mar 6th, 2009 at 03:33 PM:

We have so many good memories of you all - CJ, Josh, Jordon, Sariah and Sterling, as well as your Mom & Dad. Hang on to your faith during this time. God Bless and we love you. Lindsay and Debbi Locke McMahon  

Todd, Carol Graden And Girls - Mar 6th, 2009 at 05:07 PM:

CJ, Josh, Sterling, Jordan and Sariah, We were so sorry to hear about the passing of your father. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Sandy Cooley - Mar 6th, 2009 at 07:59 PM

C.J., Josh, Sterling, Jordan, and Sariah, I just wanted to let you know that I was sorry to hear about your dad. He was a good man. Tim and Troy always thought so much of him. It is a loss, but we know that it is only a temporary one and before long you will all be together again. You are all in my prayers. Love ya all. Sandy Cooley