Donald Evener

JACKSONVILLE Donald James Evener, 81, of Jacksonville, passed away Monday, February 13, 2006 at his home.He was born February 23, 1924 in ATHENS county and was the son of the late James Evener and Edna Tippie Evener Kirkendall.Mr. Evener was a decorated WWII veteran and participated in the Normandy Invasion. He received the Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster, along with several other Medals of Valor. Mr. Evener was the past president of Local 1573 United Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades of ATHENS and past business agent.Donald was a farmer and avid hunter, and spent much of his retirement years teaching his grandchildren the ways of the woods.Donald and his wife were Foster Parents of The Year in September of 1981 and received the Governors Award for their service. They were foster Parents to 76 children.He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Josephine "Jo" Willis Evener; sons and daughters, John (June) Evener of Athens, Donald (Dorothy) Evener of Grove City, Keith (Becky) Evener of Millfield, Linda (Elmer) Ewing of Jacksonville, Sheila (Tom) Anthe of Athens, Ruth (Scott) Nicholson of Wellston; nineteen grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by brothers, George, Blaine, Paul, Jack Bobby, and Virgil Evener; sisters, Irene Runyon and June Painter; a daughter, Carolyn Sue Evener; and a great grandson, Gabriel Evener.Services will be Thursday at 11 AM at The Concord Church with pastor Carolyn Wolfe officiating. Burial will be in The Concord Cemetery.Friends may call at Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home on Wednesday from 5 to 8 PM, and also at the church one hour prior to the service.You may send a message of sympathy to the family at www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com.